John Franklin Steiner was born on July 21, 1908 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1929 and a Doctorate in Chemistry in 1933, both from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. John Steiner and Hugh Davis founded S/D Records by 1943, and Steiner ran it himself 1945-1955. Starting in 1943, John Steiner began leasing the rights to recordings from Paramount Records and releasing them on the S/D label. He bought all the rights to Paramount Records in 1949. Steiner started teaching chemistry at the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1955. In the 1970s, Steiner helped found the Chicago Jazz Institute. Later, he was a founding member of, and very active in, the Jazz Institute of Chicago. He was also involved with the Chicago Jazz Archive at the University of Chicago Library and served on the Visiting Committee to the Department of Music at the University of Chicago. Steiner retired from his position as a chemistry professor from University of Illinois-Chicago in 1976, at which time he and his wife moved back to Milwaukee. He continued to stay involved in the Chicago jazz scene. He was internationally known as an expert on jazz and especially Chicago jazz. John Steiner died in Milwaukee in June 3, 2000.
From the description of John Steiner collection, 1860-2001 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 607318691
