Levi Strauss

1. Levi Strauss By: Melissa Hrovat Hour 6

2. German Life/Family • Born: Buttenheim, Germany (used to be Bavaria) on Feb. 26, 1829 • Dad was Hirsch Strauss, mom was Rebecca Haas (she was his 2nd wife; the 1st one died in 1822) • Had 5 siblings-Jacob, Jonas, Lippman (Louis), Maila (Mary), and Vogela (Franny)

3. German Life/Family Continued • Left Germany from port city Bremerhaven with mom and step-sisters after he turned 18 • There was anti-Semitism • Dad died in 1845 from tuberculosis • Levi’s name used to be Loeb

4. Early U.S. Years • Immigrated to New York in 1847 • Moved to Kentucky in 1848, and San Francisco in 1853 • Step-brothers Jonas and Louis went to America to start a dry-goods business after dad died • While he was in Kentucky he stayed with uncle Daniel Goldman in Louisville

5. Gold Rush/Start of Business • Levi went from New York to San Fran. when he was 24 to help step-brothers’ business • Had some canvas for tents, but miners needed pants more (miner pants wore out easily and weren’t strong) • Got some twilled cotton from France called serge de Nimes, nicknamed blue jeans

6. Gold Rush/Start of Business Continued • At first jeans were 22 cents each • He and Nevada tailor Jacob Davis patented rivets in the 1870s so pants were stronger • Didn’t like the name jeans; called them waist-high overalls • Stayed in San Fran. with Franny and husband David Stern

7. Growing Business “official birthday” is day the jeans were patented on May 20,1873 Red pocket tab was made in 1936 so people could tell they were Levi’s from a distance Company eventually moved to Battery Street, still in San Fransisco

8. Growing Business Continued • Owned 55% of the shares, the rest he split between sister Franny’s seven kids • Wanted workers to call him Levi, not Mr. Strauss

9. General Life • Never married or had kids • Became a millionaire in 1870 • Was a businessman and philanthropist • Donated money to his synagogue, Temple Emanu-El • Liked theaters, social clubs, literary clubs, and giving dinner parties

10. General Life Continued • Helped the Pacific Hebrew Orphan Asylum and Home, was a member of the California Immigrant Union (in 1869), gave 28 scholarships at the University of California and donated money to the California School for the Deaf

11. Old Age/Death • In 70s had heart problem, had to rest, couldn’t work (hadn’t retired) • Died when he was 73 on September 26,1902 • Four company heirs were nephews Jacob, Abraham, Louis, and Sigmund Stern • Funeral was a business holiday so everyone in San Francisco could come to it • Funeral was at Temple Emanu-El

12. Bibliography • Bellis, Mary. "Levi Strauss - The History of Blue Jeans." About.com. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. <http://inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventors/a/Levi_Strauss.htm>. • "Levi Strauss." Infoplease. Pearson Education, Inc. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921317.html>. • "Levi Strauss." Answers.com. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. <http://www.answers.com/topic/levi-strauss>. • "STRAUSS, Levi (1829-1902)." German-American History & Heritage. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://www.germanheritage.com/biographies/mtoz/strauss.html>. • Gordeeva, Tatyana. "The Origin of Levi's Denim Blue Jeans." German Culture. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/weekly/levi-strauss.htm>. • Muir, John. "Notable Immigrants: Levi Strauss." Pacific Coast Immigration Museum. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://learn.pacificcoastimmigration.org/notable/profiles/lstrauss.html>. • "Images." Google Images. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. <http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=bremerhaven+germany&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1003&bih=548>.