Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990

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Elise Stern Haas was born in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 1893, the only child of Rosalie Meyer and Sigmund Stern. Her father was president of Levi Strauss and Co., and nephew of Levi Strauss, who founded the firm in 1850. In 1914, she married Walter A. Haas, president of Levi Strauss and Co. from 1928 to 1955. They had three children: Walter A., Jr., Peter, and Rhoda. She died on Oct. 20, 1990.

From the description of Elise Stern Haas papers, 1914-1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 743435610

From the description of Elise Stern Haas papers, 1914-1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 247501368

Elise Haas was a prominent patron of the arts in San Francisco.

From the description of Elise S. Haas papers, 1927-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 85035363

Elise Stern Haas was born in San Francisco on October 29, 1893, the only child of Rosalie Meyer and Sigmund Stern. Her father was president of Levi Strauss and Co., and nephew of Levi Strauss, who founded the firm in 1850. In 1914, she married Walter A. Haas, president of Levi Strauss and Co. from 1928 to 1955. They had three children: Walter A., Jr., Peter, and Rhoda. She died at Mount Zion Hospital on October 20, 1990.

From the description of Elise Stern Haas family papers, 1789-1992 (bulk 1893-1990). (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 84653201

Biography

Elise Stern Haas was born in San Francisco on October 29, 1893, the only child of Rosalie Meyer and Sigmund Stern. Her father was president of Levi Strauss and Co., and nephew of Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant who founded the firm in 1850.

Elise was raised in the family home on Pine Street and was taught to read and write at home by Miss Katherine Burke, who later founded The Burke's School. At the age of nine, Elise was sent to Pacific Heights School on Jackson Street, and she graduated from high school in May 1911.

In 1914, Elise Stern married Walter A. Haas, president of Levi Strauss and Co. from 1928 to 1955. They had three children: Walter A., Jr., Peter, and Rhoda. Under the management of their sons, the company became the world's largest apparel manufacturer. Walter A. Haas, Jr. was also the owner of the Oakland Athletic's baseball team. His son, Walter J. Haas recently retired as president and chief executive officer of the company. The Haas family includes 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Elise Haas is remembered as a civic-minded philanthropist and devoted patron of the arts and culture of the city. She served as the first female president of Mount Zion Hospital from 1938 to 1940, and led the San Francisco League of Women Voters, the Visiting Nurses Association, and Red Cross Blood Drives during World War II.

Mrs. Haas was involved with the Museum of Modern Art from it's inception in the 1930's and served as Chairman from 1964 to 1966. Under her leadership, the museum solidified its financial base and built up its permanent collection.

Mrs. Haas, along with several family members, received the Alexis de Tocqueville Society award from the United Way of America in 1985. The citation stated that the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, founded in 1952, reflected "the family philosophy that wealth is a responsibility and the sharing of it is a way of life".

Walter and Elise were married for 65 years. On their 60th anniversary, Walter said that of all their accomplishments, their children were the most significant. The Haas family continues to carry on the family legacy and makes generous contributions to educational and health institutions, the environment, and social services organizations.

Elise Stern Haas died at Mount Zion Hospital on October 20, 1990.

From the guide to the Elise Stern Haas Family Papers, 1789-1992, (1893-1990), (The Bancroft Library.)

Biography

Elise Stern Haas was born in San Francisco in 1893. She was the daughter of Rosalie Meyer and Sigmund Stern, who was the president of Levi Strauss and Co. and the nephew of the company's founder, Levi Strauss. In 1914 she married Walter A. Haas, who was president of Levi Strauss and Co. from 1928-1955. The company was eventually managed by their sons, Walter A. Haas Jr. and Peter Haas, under whose leadership the company became the largest apparel manufacturer in the world. Elise and Walter Haas had two sons and one daughter, as well as 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Elise S. Haas was known as a civic-minded patron of the arts and philanthropist. She was the president of Mount Zion Hospital from 1938-1940 and headed the San Francisco League of Women Voters. She also held Red Cross blood drives in World War II and headed the Visiting Nurse Association. She was the first woman president of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (formerly the San Francisco Museum of Art), and served on its women's board, the board of trustees, and served as its chairman from 1964-1966. During her term as president, the museum built up its permanent collection and solidified its financial base.

Elise Haas and her husband made significant contributions to health and education institutions, environmental causes, and social services. She died in 1990 at the age of 96.

( Source : "Elise Haas -Arts Patron, Matriarch of S.F. Family." San Francisco Chronicle . October 20, 1990.)

From the guide to the Vacation Cyanotypes from Lake County, California, 1889-1890, (The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise S. Haas papers, 1927-1990. California Digital Library
creatorOf Elise Stern Haas Family Papers, 1789-1992, (1893-1990) Bancroft Library
creatorOf Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas papers, 1914-1955. Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
referencedIn Richard N. and Rhoda H. Goldman papers, 1863-2003, 1939-1995 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas papers, 1914-1955. Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
creatorOf Elise Stern Haas family audiovisual collection. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Stern Grove Festival Association (San Francisco, Calif.). Stern Grove Festival Association records, 1931-1984. California historical society
referencedIn Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center. Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center records, 1887-1994, bulk 1960s-1980s. Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
creatorOf Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas correspondence, circa 1951-1966. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas family papers, 1789-1992 (bulk 1893-1990). UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Goldman, Richard N., 1920-2010. Richard N. and Rhoda H. Goldman papers, 1863-2003 1939-1995. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Johan Hagemeyer Photograph Collection, circa 1908-circa 1955 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Catalogue I of the Regional Oral History Office, 1954-1979 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Vacation Cyanotypes from Lake County, California, 1889-1890 Bancroft Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bancroft Library. Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life. corporateBody
associatedWith Bancroft Library. Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life. corporateBody
associatedWith Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office corporateBody
associatedWith Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice), 1866-1941. person
associatedWith Bloch, Ernest, 1880-1959. person
associatedWith Field, Sara Bard, 1882-1974, person
associatedWith Flanner, Janet, 1892-1978, person
associatedWith Fleg, Edmond, 1874-1963. person
associatedWith Goldman, Rhoda H., d. 1996 person
associatedWith Goldman, Richard N., 1920-2010. person
associatedWith Haas family family
associatedWith Haas family. family
associatedWith Haas, Walter A., 1889-1979. person
associatedWith Hagemeyer, Johan person
associatedWith Jelenko, Thérèse, 1884-1967 person
associatedWith Judah L. Magnes Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Marini, Marino, 1901-1980, person
associatedWith Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954, person
correspondedWith Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953 person
correspondedWith Mendelsohn, Luise, 1894-1980 person
associatedWith Milhaud, Darius, 1892-1974. person
associatedWith Moore, Henry, 1898-1986, person
associatedWith Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Philomath Club corporateBody
associatedWith Philomath Club corporateBody
associatedWith Stein, Michael, person
associatedWith Stern family family
associatedWith Stern family. family
associatedWith Stern Grove Festival Association (San Francisco, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Stern, Rosalie Meyer, 1869-1956. person
associatedWith Stern, Sigmund person
associatedWith Stern, Sigmund. person
associatedWith Toklas, Alice B. person
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. Ernest Bloch Professorship. corporateBody
associatedWith Walter, Bruno, 1876-1962, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California--San Francisco
California--San Francisco
California--San Francisco Bay Area
Subject
Jewish women
Jews
Philanthropists
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1893

Death 1990

French,

Italian,

English

Information

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