Wangenheim, Julius

Biographical / Historical Notes

Julius Wangenheim was born on April 21, 1866 in San Francisco to businessman Sol Wangenheim and Fannie Newman. He received his B.S. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1887. Upon graduation, Julius began working with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, where he remained until 1889. In 1889, he began working for the family business, the Simon Newman Firm. He married Laura Klauber in 1892. He had one surviving daughter, Alice, who later married George Heyneman, and a son Richard (1893-1894).

In 1896 he moved to San Diego from the San Francisco area and began work at the newly established Klauber Wangenheim Company, a wholesale grocer. In 1903, he bought the controlling interest in the Bank of Commerce and Trust Company of San Diego which grew to be the largest bank in San Diego. The bank was consolidated with the Southern Trust and Commerce Bank in 1917; it was at this point that he retired at the age of 51, but he remained board chair of the Southern Title and Trust Company until his death.

Julius Wangenheim was also actively engaged in civic development and was a member of many committees. In 1915, he served as the head of the finance committee for the Panama-California Expedition and was also a founder of the San Diego Historical Society. At various times he served as the board chair for the Park Commission, Planning Commission, Water Commission, Harbor Committee, Civic Improvement Committee, as well as the Fine Arts Society and the English Speaking Union. He was also very interested in education. He served as President of the University of California’s Alumni Association from 1927-28, was the treasurer of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego (now Scripps Institution of Oceanography), and was a trustee of Scripps College in Pomona.

He had a keen interest in the literary arts and was a known bibliophile, collecting rare books and also loaning out mathematical books to students. Additionally, he designed a sundial that provided accurate readings within one minute. The sundials were recreated and placed in various areas of San Diego and California. Julius Wangenheim died on March 10, 1942 from a stroke.

From the guide to the Julius Wangenheim Papers, 1859-1942, (San Diego History Center Document Collection)