Oscar B. Cintas facts for kids

Oscar Benjamin Cintas y Rodriguez (born March 31, 1887, in Sagua la Grande, Cuba – died May 11, 1957, in New York City) was a very important businessman. He made a lot of money in the sugar and railroad industries. He also served as Cuba's ambassador to the United States from 1932 to 1934. He was known for his love of art and for helping artists.

Oscar Cintas: A Life of Impact

Early Life and Business

Oscar Cintas studied in London. After his education, he became a director for the Cuban Railroad Company. He helped manage their sugar mills in places like Punta Alegre, Jatibonico, and Jobabo. He was also the president of railroad equipment companies in Brazil and Argentina. Plus, he was a director for big American companies like the American Car and Foundry Company and the American Locomotive Company. He had many business interests in Europe too.

A Passion for Art and History

Oscar Cintas loved art and collected many valuable pieces. With advice from the famous Alfred H. Barr Jr., he built an amazing collection of old and modern paintings. People once thought it was one of the best collections in Latin America. For example, in 1940, he lent a painting by Rembrandt called Portrait of a Rabbi on a Wide Cap to a special art show in New York.

The Gettysburg Address Copy

Cintas also collected important old papers. One of his most famous purchases was the only first edition of Miguel de Cervantes' book Don Quixote. He also bought the fifth and final handwritten copy of Abraham Lincoln's famous "Gettysburg Address". This copy was once owned by the family of Colonel Alexander Bliss, and it's known as the "Bliss copy".

In 1949, Cintas bought this important document for $54,000. At that time, it was a record price for a document sold at a public auction. After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the government claimed Cintas' properties. However, Cintas, who had passed away in 1957, had decided to give the Gettysburg Address to the American people. He wanted it to be kept at the White House. So, in 1959, it was moved there. This copy is special because it's the only one Lincoln signed himself. You can see it displayed in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House.

His Legacy: The CINTAS Foundation

Before he died, Cintas arranged for his estate, including his art collection, to be managed by The Chase Manhattan Bank. With help from David Rockefeller, a special group of trustees was formed to carry out Cintas' wishes for a foundation. These early members included important art experts from places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.

The foundation was first called the Cuban Art Foundation. But in 1962, its name was changed to the CINTAS Foundation to honor Oscar Cintas. This foundation helps Cuban artists grow and keeps Cuban art traditions alive. Thanks to Cintas' vision, more than 300 talented writers, architects, composers, visual artists, and filmmakers have received fellowships and grants. Many of them have become famous around the world. The list of CINTAS fellows shows how creative Cubans and their descendants are, no matter where they live. The CINTAS Foundation is the oldest organization in the United States dedicated to supporting Cuban artists.

Besides giving fellowships, the CINTAS Foundation also looks after two large art collections in the United States. It also organizes exhibitions using works from these collections. The CINTAS Fellows collection is made up of artworks donated by artists who received fellowships. It has become the largest collection of Cuban art outside of Cuba and continues to grow.

The CINTAS Foundation gives out fellowships every year to creative artists who have Cuban family roots. These fellowships recognize their achievements and help them develop their skills in architecture, writing, music, and visual arts. Some past recipients include the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Oscar Hijuelos, the playwright Maria Irene Fornes, painters Carlos Alfonzo and Emilio Falero, photographer Andres Serrano, architect Andrés Duany, poet Silvia Curbelo, sculptors María Elena González and Rafael Consuegra, and composer Orlando Garcia.