Code,999075sr
Subject,Leslie Cade
Date,9/17/08
Interviewer,Matthew Ferraton
Abstract,"Leslie Cade, archivist at the Cleveland Museum of Art, discusses the life of Jeptha Homer Wade I and Jeptha Homer Wade II and their impact on University Circle and the Cleveland Museum of Art. There are also discussions of Spiritual Philosophy and the Wade families other philanthropic works. "
Tags,"Cleveland Museum of Art, Jeptha Homer Wade"
Special Notes,
Minutes: ,19:44
0,Clarification about Jeptha Wade The First and Jeptha Wade The Second
1,"Brief discussion of Jeptha Wade the first, a portrait painter and photographer, who became a founder of Western Union Telegraph Co and became wealthy. Bought land in University Circle. Began donating portions in 1882 to build a park which became popular recreation area with lake, boats, and ice skating"
2,"Wade reserved land to build a house for the family and for a ""college reserve"" to create another educational institution. At this point Case was established and Western Reserve had moved from Hudson, but Wade wanted to attract a college from PA to move to the city. Wade I was interested in establishing professorships in ""spiritual philosophy,""  spiritualism, and wanted to ""stay in contact"" with son Randall who died at a young age. However this plan failed and grandson, Jeptha Homer Wade II, inherited the land after his death."
3,"Wade II was going to use land for ""family purposes"" but never did. Several groups wanted the land, including the parks commission, who wanted to put Soldiers and Sailors monument there, Case University, and Cleveland School of the Arts. At the end of the 19th century, three prominent Clevelanders died and left money to establish an art museum in their wills (independent of one another.) Wade was approached by trustee's of the estates to donate land for art museum, because Wade was an art collector he felt it was the best use for the land."
4,"Jeptha Homer Wade II was not artistic, but began collecting art at an early age. Wade first traveled to Europe at 13 and visited art centers, churches, and other cultural institutions, also began collecting art and gemstones."
5,"Donated 2,855 individual works of art before his death and set up an endowment fund for the purchase of art which is still used today. One piece was Mary Cassatt's ""After the Bath,"" a modern painting. Wade also donated pieces by Fantin-Latour and Homer."
6," Spiritual Philosophy was very popular in mid 19th century because people were interested in communicating with the dead and in spiritualism. Many people studied, had seances, and did spirit writing but was considered ""more of a hobby."" "
7,"Cade does not believe that spiritual philosophy influenced Wade to benefit community, rather it was his protestant roots. Common for wealthy to feel that they needed to give back to the community, felt it was ""their duty."" Land was ""ideally situated"" in the middle of the park next to the academic institutions in the east end which was a popular, swank part of town. People came to visit park and institutions, making it a ""hot piece of property."""
8,"Wade Park was established in 1882 when JHW I donated the land to the city. Already had improved the land by adding lake and the paths, initially for use by his family, then donated land to the city. Park has changed over time, the lake was deeper and the zoo was originally in the park where the Botanical Gardens is now, also there was no Museum of Natural History."
9, Not a company you could name that Wade (does not specify I or II) was not a part of. On the board of directors for 45 companies. 
10,"Wade II helped with Western Reserve Historical Society and The Museum of Natural History. His grandfather was one of the founders of the Protestant Orphans Asylum which is now Beechbrook and the Welfare Association. Original endowment still exists today, in 1920 endowment was a half a million dollars which is about ten million dollars in today's terms. "
11,"Park land still belongs to the city, CMA is in charge of the maintenance. Owned extensive land, which expanded even behind East Blvd and 108th street, known as the Wade Allotment. Wade founded a real estate company and sold homes in allotment, considered the best address in the city. Wade Allotment includes the mansions that make up the Western Reserve Historical Society, Wade did not live there."
12,"Land changed ownership when Jeptha donated the land to the city in 1882. The College Reserve was donated to the Art Museum through complicated legal maneuvering. Traded the College Reserve with the city for a better piece of land for the museum to sit on. Later on, Jeptha II donated land to the west of the art museum to build a children's museum."
13,"Interested in art education for children and wanted a second institution for children which never happened. The Art Museum had a children's museum in the building which was the nucleus of the education programs, which began before the museum was built. Education programs did not just include art, also had natural history exhibits."
14,"Important to know that even though Wade was extremely wealthy and involved in the community, he was a very personable, unassuming, shy man. Very generous man not only in large philanthropy projects, records of him sending small amounts of money to people who fell on hard times. "
15,"Wade was a lover of beautiful things which is why he collected art. Would go on ""buying trips"" with the curator of decorative arts to New York, London, and Paris, Wade would buy the items and donate them to the museum. While popular, The Armor Court was purchased by John L. Severance which makes it one of the few areas that Wade did not collect or donate."
16,"Childrens museum existed in 1916 but was eventually disassembled to make room for art and because Natural History Museum was built, which now holds his gem collection. The CMA did continue with art education programs."
17,"Jeptha Homer Wade I built two homes for his family on Euclid Ave and E40th street. When he died the house was demolished on his request, it was reported that it was because he did not want his ghost to come back to the house and be lonely. "
18,"The second house was demolished in 1934, which was located next door. The family had moved to Hunting Valley and had a farm in Thomasville, Georgia. Wade also loved to travel, owned an ocean going yacht and traveled around the world twice. Yacht was commissioned by the Navy and was used in WW1. Architects who designed the CMA also built the Wade Chapel in Lake View Cemetery, which has one of the few remaining Tiffany interiors in the Country. "
19,"Wade was influential in getting Hubbell & Benes the commission of the CMA. Wade wrote everything down, including daily purchases. Audio Ends"
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