Daniel J. Terra
Encyclopedia
Daniel J. Terra was a scientist, businessman, and art collector. A first-generation Italian-American, Terra earned a chemical engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University
in 1931, and founded Lawter Chemicals in Chicago
in 1940. The success of his global enterprise enabled him to pursue his cultural interests, assembling an art collection and participating in several Chicago arts institutions.
, was raised in Pennsylvania
. He worked as an apprentice in his family's shop while studying chemistry
. Through his undergraduate thesis research, he discovered a new ink vehicle, which allowed printing presses to run faster than ever before, leading to the creation of Life magazine, the first news-picture publication. In 1940, Terra borrowed funds from a friend, John Lawson and founded a printing-chemical firm, Lawter Chemicals, one of the world largest producers of printing inks and chemicals.
Terra's interest in art and collecting began in 1937 when he married Adeline Evans Richards, a painter and a student of art history.
Terra was finance chairman of Ronald Reagan's
1980 Presidential campaign and was rewarded by being named the United State's first and only Ambassador at Large for Cultural Affairs, serving in that post from 1981-07-15 to 1989-01-27.
Terra founded the Terra Museum of American Art, which after his death became the object of a court case when his widow attempted to have the museum moved from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C.
The museum subsequently closed to be merged with the Art Institute of Chicago
.
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1931, and founded Lawter Chemicals in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1940. The success of his global enterprise enabled him to pursue his cultural interests, assembling an art collection and participating in several Chicago arts institutions.
Early life
Daniel J. Terra, the grandson of lithographers who immigrated from ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, was raised in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He worked as an apprentice in his family's shop while studying chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. Through his undergraduate thesis research, he discovered a new ink vehicle, which allowed printing presses to run faster than ever before, leading to the creation of Life magazine, the first news-picture publication. In 1940, Terra borrowed funds from a friend, John Lawson and founded a printing-chemical firm, Lawter Chemicals, one of the world largest producers of printing inks and chemicals.
Terra's interest in art and collecting began in 1937 when he married Adeline Evans Richards, a painter and a student of art history.
Terra was finance chairman of Ronald Reagan's
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
1980 Presidential campaign and was rewarded by being named the United State's first and only Ambassador at Large for Cultural Affairs, serving in that post from 1981-07-15 to 1989-01-27.
Terra founded the Terra Museum of American Art, which after his death became the object of a court case when his widow attempted to have the museum moved from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The museum subsequently closed to be merged with the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
.