Biography Spencer Trask

spencer trask & co. letterhead c. 1917

trask supporter of new inventions in experimental stages, having formed appreciation connection between technology, business , finance during time @ polytechnic university in brooklyn. foresaw potential of inventions such marconi wireless telegraph, telephone, phonograph, trolley car, , automobile; of these gave of time, money , judgment, aid in development.

thomas edison, inventor of light bulb, financed , supported trask. on 14 years president of new york edison company, world s first electric power company. company became known consolidated edison. trask original trustee of edison electric light company, predecessor general electric company, being many years member of executive committee.

in 1896, adolph s. ochs, introduced trask john moody. trask , partner, george foster peabody, leaders of investment group had bought new york times, averting bankruptcy. trask made ochs publisher , himself chairman new york times reborn. john moody began statistical work @ spencer trask before launching moody s investors service.

with no close heirs, trasks began entertain idea of turning 400-acre (1.6 km), saratoga springs, new york estate working community of artists , writers. twelve years after spencer s death, mrs. trask married george foster peabody, , launched corporation of yaddo. artist community has operated continuously ever since. yaddo, name of estate, said have been coined trask s young daughter christina, amused father mispronunciation of numerous dark spots on lawn caused towering trees shadows.

spirit of life

the results of trasks legacy have been historic. john cheever once wrote forty or acres on principal buildings of yaddo stand have seen more distinguished activity in arts other piece of ground in english-speaking community , perhaps world . collectively, artists worked @ yaddo have won 61 pulitzer prizes, 56 national book awards, 22 national book critics circle award, nobel prize, , countless other honors. many books yaddo authors have been made films. visitors cheever s day include milton avery, james baldwin, leonard bernstein, truman capote, aaron copland, philip guston, patricia highsmith, langston hughes, ted hughes, alfred kazin, ulysses kay, jacob lawrence, sylvia plath, katherine anne porter, mario puzo, clyfford still, , virgil thomson.

the success of yaddo encouraged spencer , katrina later donate land working women s retreat center well, known wiawaka holiday house.

trask died in train accident on new year s eve in 1909. in commemoration of life, daniel chester french commissioned create statue spencer trask. @ memorial service in saratoga city park, spirit of life unveiled.