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Joseph M. Katz

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American entrepreneur

Joseph M. Katz (1913 - 1991) was an entrepreneur who founded a gift-wrap manufacturing company, the Papercraft Corporation. The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Business is named in his honor, after his family made a large donation to the university.

Biography

Katz grew up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was born into a Jewish family. As a teenager, Katz and his three brothers turned their garage into a makeshift print shop, where they created cards, menus, and other stationery items, which they sold door-to-door. He also created and printed his own magazine, Boys Ideal.

Katz took pictures of the Pittsburgh Flood of 1936 and made a profit by selling them as a book. With this money, he started a wholesale paper business called "Printer's Paper Supply Company".

During World War II, Katz created the “Rite-Kit”, which was a box that contained paper, envelopes, and a pencil for servicemen.

In 1945, he founded Papercraft Corporation, for selling gift wrap, after acquiring a $10,000 investment.

Katz and his first wife Agnes donated $10 million to the University of Pittsburgh, his alma mater. At the time, this was the largest donation ever made to the university. The university renamed its business school the "Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business" in his honor in 1987.

In 1988 Joseph Katz and his son, Papercraft CEO Marshall Katz, relented control over the company though kept 30% of its stock.

He died of cancer in May 1991. He was survived by their children Marshall P. Katz, Andrea McCutcheon, grandchildren Jonathan S. Plesset, Nicole Plesset, Lauren Katz, and Great Grandchild Jeffrey Plesset.

References

  1. "Quintessential Entrepreneur". Pitt Business. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. ^ "About Joseph M. Katz". Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  3. "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search".
  4. REA's Authoritative Guide to the Top 100 Business Schools. Research & Education Assoc. 1996. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-87891-747-1.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Marshall P. Katz / Former Papercraft chairman dedicated life to the arts | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette".
  6. "Joseph M. Katz Dies; Manufacturer Was 77". The New York Times. 8 May 1991. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

Further reading

  • Hardie, Frances C. (1987). The Papercraft Story: a Biographical Saga of a Pittsburgh-Based Enterprise. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.
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