Bortman, Mark, 1896-1967

Mark Bortman (1896-1967) was Chairman of the Civic Committee of the People-to-People Program, established by the Eisenhower White House, from 1957 to 1967.

From the description of Bortman, Mark, 1896-1967 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10611013

Mark Bortman (1896-1967)

Mark Bortman (MB) was born in Romania on June 28, 1896 to David and Sophie Bortman. In 1904, Bortman and his parents immigrated to the West End of Boston, Massachusetts, where he attended local schools. After graduating from English High School, he attended Boston University from 1923-1924, Suffolk Law School from 1931-1932, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1942. In 1921, he married Llora Cohen; they had one daughter, Jane Bortman Larus.

Bortman was a businessman, and served as President of both Bortman Plastics, Inc. and the Blaxton Corporation. However, he was also a lifelong student of American history and a strong supporter of civic service. In 1948, Bortman and his wife donated over 2000 early Americana manuscripts and artifacts to Boston University (now the Howard Gotleib Archival Research Center). Bortman was also instrumental in the return of Paul Revere's Liberty Bowl to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. In 1956 President Dwight Eisenhower named Bortman Chairman of the People-to-People Civic Committee. Developed by Eisenhower, the program's goal was- and remains to this day- to promote cultural understanding throughout the international community. From 1959-1961 Bortman served as Chairman to the People-to-People Program, overseeing the Sister City Program, which paired together American and international cities.

• 1896: MB born in Romania
• 1904: Immigrates to Boston, Massachusetts with parents
• 1921: Marries Llora S. Cohen
• 1923 - 1924 : Attends Boston University
• 1931 - 1932 : Attends Suffolk Law School
• 1942: President of Bortman Plastics, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts
• 1942: Attends Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1946 - 1960 : President of the Blaxton Corporation
• 1948: Donates Americana collection to Boston University
• 1949: Recipient of Good Citizenship Medal, Sons of the American Revolution
• 1949: Director of the Bostonian Society
• 1949 - 1954 : Chairman, Paul Revere Liberty Bowl Committee
• 1950: Director of the Old South Meeting House Association
• 1954 - 1955 : Treasurer, American Jewish Historical Society
• 1956: Chairman of the People-to-People Civic Committee
• 1959 - 1961 : Chairman of the People-to-People Program
• 1960: Honored by "Old Time West Enders"
• 1962: Honorary Degree, Sunshine University, Pinellas County, Florida
• 1963: Honorary Degree, Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts
• 1967: MB dies

From the guide to the Mark Bortman papers, undated, 1948-1967, (American Jewish Historical Society)