|
—Finding Our Fathers (1977), the first English-language book on tracing Jewish ancestors, launched the modern
Jewish genealogy movement.
—Helped foster the development of the “alternative media movement” through my involvement in Chicago
Journalism Review, the Welcomat, Philadelphia Forum and the website Broad Street Review.
—I was a pioneer in compiling “rich lists” within various communities, and my files provided the nucleus
of the first "Forbes 400" list of wealthiest Americans (1982).
—Similarly, I compiled the first lists of America's most generous living philanthropists for Town & Country (1983-89)
and American Benefactor (1997-98). These may have influenced the huge increases in philanthropy by living Americans
since the mid-1980s.
—In the course of championing free speech, I defended seven libel suits, all successfully.
— Wrote the first guidebook for inheritors (The Inheritor's Handbook, 1998).
—My co-authored book, Revolution On Wall Street (1993), was one of the first to advocate converting the New York
Stock Exchange from a not-for-profit membership organization to a publicly-traded corporation, which came to pass in 2006.
Minor achievements
—Secured first imedia interview in years with reclusive Motorola chairman Robert Galvin (for Wall Street Journal,
1969).
—Came up with enduring nickname of “The Frog” for Eugene L. Roberts, legendary executive editor of Philadelphia
Inquirer, 1972-1990, later managing editor of New York Times. (Philadelphia magazine, August 1973).
—First published use of the term “Yuppie” as abbreviation for “young urban professional” (Chicago
magazine, May 1980; for details, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuppie#History).
—First to suggest that the Free Library of Philadelphia develop a private fund-raising capability (column in Philadelphia
Inquirer, March 1, 1982).
—First to identify Center City Philadelphia neighborhood of 17th-18th-Walnut-Sansom as “The French Quarter,”
later officially designated as such on street signs (Philadelphia Magazine, July 1998).
|
