Joseph Fels
Encyclopedia
Joseph Fels was an American soap manufacturer, millionaire, and philanthropist.
Born of German immigrants in Halifax County, Virginia, Fels moved with his family to Baltimore in 1866; by 1876 he'd assumed control of a soap manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, and brought two of his brothers in as partners shortly after. One of them, Samuel Simeon Fels
, became president of the firm.
In 1894 he developed the Fels-Naptha
soap brand, historically used as a home remedy in the treatment of contact dermatitis caused by exposure to poison ivy
, poison oak
, and other oil-transmitted organic skin-irritants. The soap is still marketed by the Dial Corporation as of 2010.
While his own fortune rapidly accumulated, as early as 1890 Fels had become an adherent of Henry George
and his proposed Land value tax
. Fels funded the founding of the Georgist colony of Arden, Delaware
in 1900, managed by architect Will Price
and sculptor Frank Stephens. This was one of several experimental labor colonies he funded. In 1894 he made financial contributions to the founding of the single-tax colony in Fairhope, Alabama
, and many similar experiments in England.
From 1906 through 1912 Fels also contributed to the Jewish Territorialist Organization
, in hopes that a Jewish homeland would be founded along Georgist principle. His wife Mary continued to support this cause after Fels' death in 1912; his brother Samuel also remained an active philanthropist.
Born of German immigrants in Halifax County, Virginia, Fels moved with his family to Baltimore in 1866; by 1876 he'd assumed control of a soap manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, and brought two of his brothers in as partners shortly after. One of them, Samuel Simeon Fels
Samuel Simeon Fels
Samuel Simeon Fels was an American businessman and philanthropist.Early in Samuel's life his family relocated to Philadelphia, where Samuel's older brother Joseph Fels founded a soap manufacturing company, Fels & Co. Samuel became the company's first president, a post which he held until his death...
, became president of the firm.
In 1894 he developed the Fels-Naptha
Fels-Naptha
Fels-Naptha is a brand of bar laundry soap used for pre-treating stains on clothing and as a home remedy for exposure to poison ivy and other skin irritants. Fels-Naptha is manufactured by and is a trademark of the Dial Corporation.-Use:...
soap brand, historically used as a home remedy in the treatment of contact dermatitis caused by exposure to poison ivy
Poison ivy
Toxicodendron radicans, better known as poison ivy , is a poisonous North American plant that is well known for its production of urushiol, a clear liquid compound found within the sap of the plant that causes an itching rash in most people who touch it...
, poison oak
Poison oak
Poison oak may refer to* Toxicodendron diversilobum, grows on West Coast of North America* Toxicodendron pubescens, grows in the Eastern United Statesdamnnnnn tissss is terribleee...
, and other oil-transmitted organic skin-irritants. The soap is still marketed by the Dial Corporation as of 2010.
While his own fortune rapidly accumulated, as early as 1890 Fels had become an adherent of Henry George
Henry George
Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land...
and his proposed Land value tax
Land value tax
A land value tax is a levy on the unimproved value of land. It is an ad valorem tax on land that disregards the value of buildings, personal property and other improvements...
. Fels funded the founding of the Georgist colony of Arden, Delaware
Arden, Delaware
Arden is a village and art colony in New Castle County, Delaware, in the United States, founded in 1900 as a radical Georgist single-tax community by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect Will Price. The village occupies about 160 acres, with half kept as open land. According to the 2010 Census,...
in 1900, managed by architect Will Price
Will Price
William Lightfoot Price was an influential American architect, a pioneer in the use of reinforced concrete, and a founder of the utopian communities of Arden, Delaware and Rose Valley, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
and sculptor Frank Stephens. This was one of several experimental labor colonies he funded. In 1894 he made financial contributions to the founding of the single-tax colony in Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, on a sloping plateau, along the cliffs and shoreline of Mobile Bay. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 16,176....
, and many similar experiments in England.
From 1906 through 1912 Fels also contributed to the Jewish Territorialist Organization
Jewish Territorialist Organization
The Jewish Territorial Organization, known as the ITO, was a Jewish political movement which first arose in 1903 in response to the British Uganda Offer, but which was institutionalized in 1905....
, in hopes that a Jewish homeland would be founded along Georgist principle. His wife Mary continued to support this cause after Fels' death in 1912; his brother Samuel also remained an active philanthropist.
External Links
- The Joseph and Mary Fels Papers, including correspondence and other printed materials, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.