Shecter, Louis E.

Advertising executive, Broadway playwright, and founder of the Beth Tfiloh Synagogue, of Baltimore, Md.; b. 1901; d. 1992.

From the description of Louis E. Shecter collection, 1921-1985. (Jewish Historical Society of Maryland Library). WorldCat record id: 70963367

Louis E. Shecter (1900- ) was an American advertising entrepreneur and art collector. He was also actively involved in human rights and issues relating to Israel, serving as chairman of the National Commission on Ratification of the Genocide Convention, vice-chairman on International Affairs for the American Jewish Congress, chairman of the Baltimore Chapter of the Commission to End Arab Discrimination, and president of the Baltimore Branch of the American Jewish Congress.

From the guide to the Louis E. Shecter Papers, 1933-1972, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Louis E. Shecter (1900-?)

In 1918, Louis E. Shecter graduated from City College High School in Baltimore, MD. He began writing for the Baltimore American, but then started in advertising by working at the Joseph Katz Co. Advertising Agency. By 1926, he had transferred to the Hecht Brothers Stores and was the director of advertising. It was not long before Shecter was winning awards for his male clothing advertisements and campaigns. Success came easily to Shecter. He established his own advertising firm Shecter & Levin with his friend Jack Levin.

At an early age Shecter began to gain an eye for artwork - a passion that would influence the rest of his life. For over forty years, Shecter acquired, displayed, and donated paintings and sculptures. He has a particular fascination with bronzes. Settling outside of Baltimore, MD with his wife Rosalyn and sons Allan and Mark, Louis Shecter collected great pieces of artwork. He was very generous with all of his acquisitions, holding exhibitions of his private collections in local Baltimore banks and galleries. He donated large amounts of work to governments, especially the State Department and Menachem Begin, and was visited often by international dignitaries, especially for his ancient Asian sculptures.

More than just an art collector, Shecter was also very involved with human rights and Israel in the 1960s and 1970s. He was chairman of the National Commission on Ratification of the Genocide Convention, vice-chairman on International Affairs for the American Jewish Congress, chairman of the Baltimore Chapter of the Commission to End Arab Discrimination, and president of the Baltimore Branch of the American Jewish Congress. He and his wife Rosalyn visited Israel only six months after the Six-Day War, touring all of the recently gained territory, including the West Bank.

Rosalyn Shecter was a very active person, too. She was an amateur sculptor served as both chairman and vice-chairman of the Maryland Board of Motion Picture Censors. She wrote a book Open Letter to the Supreme Court proposing anti-pornographic legislation. Both she and Louis write prolifically, having their articles in local newspapers. Later in their lives, Rosalyn and Louis Shecter traveled extensively around Europe and Israel.

From the guide to the Louis E. Shecter, papers, undated, 1921-1989, (American Jewish Historical Society)