Hirsch, Maurice

Maurice Hirsch, lawyer, philanthropist and native Houstonian was born on January 13th, 1890. He received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a J.D. from Harvard Law and a Masters in Law from the University of Texas. He began practicing law in Houston in 1913 focusing on oil and gas industry cases and later civil law. During WWI he volunteered to served on local boards and during WWII he rose to the ranks of Brigadier General as the Director of the Renegotiation Division in Washington D.C. In 1947, he was released from the Army and married Winifred Busby. They returned to Houston where he continued his law practice as well as civil service and social activities until his death in 1983.

Winifred Busby Hirsch was born on January 2, 1908 in Arkansas. After a brief year working in Houston in 1933, Winifred moved to New York City to attend Columbia and became the assistant to the editor of Young National, a children's magazine. She eventually moved to Washington D.C. as the representative for the General Railway Signal Company. There she was reacquainted with Maurice Hirsch. She spent her remaining years in Houston, Texas joining him in philanthropic endeavors. She died in 1990 aboard her Yacht, the Athena.

The Hirsches contributed immensely to philanthropic organizations in the city of Houston and abroad. While they were members of too many organizations to name individually, they were most heavily involved with the arts. Most notably, Maurice Hirsch served as president of the Houston Symphony Society for 14 years between 1956-1970. They were both lifetime trustees at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and gave generously to the library that later adopted their name. After Winifred's death in 1990 their lifetime of collected treasures were auctioned to benefit the MFAH, Houston Symphony, Houston Opera and the University of Houston School of Music. With their free time the Hirsches were avid socialites and incessant world travelers. As a couple, they embarked on 27 world tours within 36 years of marriage.

From the description of Hirsch papers, 1880-1990. (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Hirsch Library). WorldCat record id: 746079846