John Herzog Collection on Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc.
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Abstract
John Herzog is a businessman, founder of the Museum of American Finance, and former Chairman and CEO of Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc., a financial services company founded by Herzog's family in 1926 and eventually purchased by Merrill Lynch in 2000. This collection contains Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. historial material accumulated by Herzog and used as research for his book on the company's history, A Billion to One. Company files include correspondence, financial statements, reports, index cards on active and inactive trades, as well as 60th and 70th company anniversary material in paper and electronic format. This collection also contains a significant amount of the company's print advertisements dating from the 1970s through 1990s. Herzog's business diary entries and personal correspondence are also found in this collection. Herzog's 1966 Master's thesis, which was a precursor to his book, as well as later book typescripts and the published book itself can also be found in this collection.
Biographical Note
John Herzog is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. as well as the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Museum of American Finance. Herzog is also Chairman Emeritus of Spink/Smythe, an auction house specializing in antique stocks and bonds, banknotes, coins, autographs, and photographs. In 2017, his book on the history of Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc., A Billion to One, was published. As of 2018, Herzog is a member of the Board of Overseers at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.
Historical Note
The firm of Parmer, Herzog, and Chadwick was established by Robert L. Herzog in 1926 as a bond trading and brokerage company. The New York area company suffered losses in the stock market crash of 1929 but stayed in business by trading in foreign bonds. Over the years, the firm evolved into Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc., becoming a member of the New York Stock Exchange, performing retail brokerage, clearing, bond brokerage and limited investment banking and related financial services. The company was acquired by Merrill Lynch in 2000.
Arrangement
This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. The materials are arranged in the order in which they were received from the donor.
Scope and Contents
The John Herzog Collection on Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. contains 70 years of office files for the New York area investment company Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc., including a trader's position book, correspondence, financial statements, index cards on active and inactive trades, reports, tax documents, photographs, meeting minutes, and office floor plans. The majority of office files range in date from the 1920s to the mid-2000s. The 60th and 70th company anniversary material contains paper and electronic files, including invitation lists, planning memos, and dinner table assignments from 1996. Files and reports related to the company's mergers and sales throughout its history can also be found in this collection. A significant number of the company's print advertisements dating from the 1970s through the 1990s can be found in this collection in the form of proofs, samples, and original artwork. A mouse pad and pin with the company logo is included in this collection. John Herzog accumulated and used these office files while writing his 2017 book on the company's history, A Billion to One, which was an expanded version of his 1966 Master's thesis. Other book sources include photocopies and electronic images of Herzog's business diary entries (1964-1977), personal correspondence, and certificates. A typescript and published copy of A Billion to One is also in this collection.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by John Herzog was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); John Herzog Collection on Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc.; MC 289; box number; folder number; New York University Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by John Herzog in May 2018, March 2019, June 2019, and September 2022; the accession numbers associated with these gift are 2018.015, 2019.043, 2019.058, and 2022.093.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Advance notice is required for the use of computer records. Original physical digital media is restricted. An access terminal for born-digital materials in the collection is available by appointment for reading room viewing only. Researchers may view an item's original container and/or carrier, but the physical carriers themselves are not available for use because of preservation concerns.
Appraisal
The University Archivist was consulted on 7/27/2018 and decided not to retain a CD-RW containing duplicate digital images of diary entries which existed in analog form in the collection.
About this Guide
Processing Information
A majority of the papers were grouped in envelopes by year. The envelopes were discarded and the contents were placed in acid free folders, while retaining their original groupings. The dates notated on the envelopes were used as folder titles. Binders were left intact and placed in a record carton. Print advertisements were left loose, with the more fragile pieces grouped in folders. Larger format advertisements were stored in flat boxes and the remainder in a record carton. Materials were described at the collection-level with a file-level inventory.
A 3.5" floppy disk was imaged and attached within a file in the inventory. New York University Libraries follows professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity of the content.
In December 2022 an accretion of additional materials was rehoused in archival boxes and folders and integrated into the collection as a distinct series. Optical discs in this accretion were identified, physically separated, and inventoried but have not yet been forensically imaged, analyzed, or described.
In February 2025, a new digital object for processed electronic records was created to conform to current practices.