Rockefeller family facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rockefeller family
John D. Rockefeller, a famous oil businessman and the start of the Rockefeller family
Current region	New York, U.S.
Place of origin	Rhineland
Founded	1723, Philadelphia 301 years ago
Founder	Johann Peter Rockefeller
Titles	List Vice President of the United States Governor (of New York, West Virginia, and Arkansas) United States Senator (West Virginia)
Connected families	Aldrich family McCormick family Stillman family
Estate(s)	Rockefeller Center Kykuit The Casements

The Rockefeller family is a very powerful American family. They are known for their success in business, politics, and banking. Their huge wealth came from the oil business in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This fortune was built by brothers John D. Rockefeller and William A. Rockefeller Jr.. Their main company was Standard Oil, which later became companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron Corporation. The family also had a long connection with Chase Manhattan Bank. By 1977, the Rockefellers were seen as one of the most influential families in American history. The Rockefeller family originally came from Rhineland in Germany. They moved to the Americas in the early 1700s. Through another family line, John D. Rockefeller and William Rockefeller Jr. also have Scotch-Irish roots.

Where Did the Rockefeller Family Come From?

The Rockefeller family started in the Rhineland area of Germany. Their history can be traced back to the town of Neuwied in the early 1600s. The American part of the family began with Johann Peter Rockefeller. He moved from Germany to Philadelphia around 1723. In the U.S., he became a plantation and land owner in Somerville and Amwell, New Jersey.

One of the first Rockefellers in New York was a businessman named William A. Rockefeller Sr.. He was born in Granger, New York. He had six children with his first wife, Eliza Davison. Her father was a Scots-Irish farmer. The most famous of their children were the oil leaders John D. Rockefeller and William A. Rockefeller Jr.. They were the co-founders of Standard Oil. John D. Rockefeller (often called "Senior") was a very religious Northern Baptist. He supported many church groups. While most Rockefellers are Baptists, some have been Episcopalians.

How Did the Rockefeller Family Get So Rich?

The Rockefeller brothers

John D. Rockefeller Sr.

William Rockefeller Jr.

It's hard to know exactly how much wealth the Rockefeller family has. Their total money, investments, and what each family member owns have never been fully shared. The family's financial records are kept private.

From the very beginning, the family's money was controlled by the men in the family. This was done through a special "family office." Even though wives like Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s wife) were strong and influenced decisions, they only received allowances. They were never given full control over the family's money.

Much of the wealth is held in special family trusts created in 1934 and 1952. These trusts are managed by Chase Bank. They include shares in companies that came from Standard Oil, other investments, and the family's many properties. A special committee oversees this fortune.

Today, professional money managers also help handle the family's wealth. They work for Rockefeller Financial Services, which manages all the family's investments. Rockefeller Center is no longer owned by the family. The current head of this group is David Rockefeller Jr.

In 1992, this financial group had five main parts:

• Rockefeller & Co.: Manages money for others, including universities.
• Venrock Associates: A venture capital firm that invests in new companies. They made an early investment in Apple Computer.
• Rockefeller Trust Company: Manages hundreds of family trusts.
• Rockefeller Insurance Company: Handles insurance for family members.
• Acadia Risk Management: Helps the family get insurance for their huge art collections, properties, and private planes.

What Buildings and Places Did the Rockefellers Build?

Rockefeller Center at night, December 1934

John D. Rockefeller Jr., the first president of the Rockefeller Foundation.

The Rockefeller family was very involved in building many important places in the U.S. during the 1900s. Some of the most famous include:

• Rockefeller Center: A huge group of buildings in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The family paid for its construction during the Great Depression.
• International House of New York: Built in New York City in 1924.
• Colonial Williamsburg: A historic town in Virginia that was restored starting in 1927. Junior, Abby Aldrich, John III, and Winthrop helped with this project.
• Museum of Modern Art: Started in New York City in 1929. Many family members have been involved.
• Riverside Church: Built in New York City in 1930.
• The Cloisters: A museum in New York City, started in 1934.
• World Trade Center Twin Towers: Built in New York City in 1973 (destroyed in 2001). David and Nelson were involved.
• University of Chicago: Founded in 1889 because of Senior's donations.
• Central Philippine University: The first Baptist university in Asia, also founded with Senior's help.
• Many other major universities like Harvard University, Yale University, and Columbia University have received financial support from the family over the years.
• Rockefeller University: Created by Senior (and Junior) in 1901.
• General Education Board: Started in 1902 to improve education.
• Rockefeller Sanitary Commission: Created in 1910 to improve public health.
• Rockefeller Museum: Built in Jerusalem between 1925 and 1930.
• Institut Henri Poincaré: A famous mathematics institute in Paris, partly funded by the Rockefellers.

Where Did the Rockefellers Live?

Over the years, Rockefeller family members have lived in many famous historic homes. A total of 81 Rockefeller homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the most well-known homes include:

• One Beekman Place: Laurance's home in New York City.
• 740 Park Avenue: Junior and Abby's famous 40-room apartment in New York City.
• Bassett Hall: A house at Colonial Williamsburg bought by Junior in 1927. It was Junior and Abby's favorite home and is now a museum.
• The Casements: A house in Ormond Beach, Florida, where Senior spent his last winters.
• Kykuit: Also known as the John D. Rockefeller Estate. This large, 40-room home in Westchester County has been home to four generations of the family.
• The JY Ranch: A famous ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was a holiday home for the family and hosted many important visitors, including presidents. Laurance donated it to the government in 2001.

Images for kids

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  Kykuit, the landmark family home in Sleepy Hollow, New York

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  The Casements, the family's former winter residence in Florida

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  Rockwood Hall, Mount Pleasant, New York

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  Rockefeller Guest House, New York City

What is the Rockefeller Family's Legacy?

The Rockefeller family has stayed remarkably united for over 140 years. This is different from other rich families like the Du Ponts and the Mellons. A big reason for this unity was "Junior's" efforts. He worked hard to improve the family's reputation after the tough business practices of Standard Oil. He also encouraged his five sons to work together, even while letting them pursue their own interests. They did this through regular family meetings and by valuing family unity.

In 1972, the Carnegie Corporation (another famous charity) praised the Rockefeller family. They said, "The contributions of the Rockefeller family are staggering in their extraordinary range and in the scope of their contribution to humankind." This means the family has done an amazing amount of good for people around the world.

John D. Rockefeller gave away $540 million during his lifetime. This made him the biggest private donor to medicine in history. His son, Junior, also gave away over $537 million. This means that just two generations of the family gave away over $1 billion between 1860 and 1960. In 2006, The New York Times reported that David Rockefeller had given about $900 million to charity during his life.

The family members have connections with many powerful people. These include politicians, royalty, public figures, and top business leaders around the world.

In 1991, the family received the Honor Award from the National Building Museum. This award recognized four generations of their work in preserving and creating important buildings and places in the U.S. David Rockefeller accepted the award for the family. The award highlighted their efforts like preserving the Hudson River Palisades, restoring Williamsburg, Virginia, building Rockefeller Center, and Governor Nelson's work on housing in New York state.

The Rockefeller name is found in many places across the United States. Especially in New York City and Cleveland, where the family came from:

• Rockefeller Center: A famous group of 19 buildings in Midtown Manhattan.
• Rockefeller University: A top medical school known for Nobel Prize winners. It was started by Senior in 1901.
• Rockefeller Foundation: A famous charity founded in 1913 by Senior and Junior.
• Rockefeller Brothers Fund: Started in 1940 by Junior's five sons and one daughter.
• Rockefeller Family Fund: Started in 1967 by members of the fourth generation.
• Rockefeller Group: A real estate company that originally owned Rockefeller Center.
• Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors: An organization that helps people with their charity work.
• Rockefeller Chapel: The tallest building on the campus of the University of Chicago, completed in 1928.
• Rockefeller College: A residential college at Princeton University, named after John D. Rockefeller III.
• The Michael C. Rockefeller Collection and the Department of Primitive Art: A part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, started by Nelson.
• David and Peggy Rockefeller Building: A building at the family's Museum of Modern Art.
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden: A large outdoor area at the Museum of Modern Art.
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum: A leading folk art museum near Colonial Williamsburg.
• Rockefeller State Park Preserve: A large park in Westchester County, New York, given to the state in 1983.
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park: A historical museum about conservation.
• John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway: Connects Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
• Rockefeller Forest: Located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California's largest redwood state park.

John Jr., through his son Nelson, bought and then donated the land for the United Nations headquarters in New York in 1946. Earlier, in the 1920s, he also gave a lot of money to help rebuild major buildings in France after World War I. These included the Rheims Cathedral, the Fontainebleau Palace, and the Palace of Versailles. For this, he received France's highest award, the Grand Croix of the Legion d'Honneur, in 1936. His son, David Rockefeller, also received this award later.

He also paid for important excavations in Luxor, Egypt, and started a Classical Studies School in Athens. He also funded the building of the Palestine Archaeological Museum in East Jerusalem, now called the Rockefeller Museum.

How the Rockefellers Helped Protect Nature

Starting with John D. Rockefeller Sr., the family has been a major force in protecting land. Over the years, they have helped create more than 20 national parks and open spaces. These include the Cloisters, Acadia National Park, Forest Hill Park, the Nature Conservancy, the Rockefeller Forest in California's Humboldt Redwoods State Park, and Grand Teton National Park. John Jr. and his son Laurance were especially important in this area.

In November 2005, the National Audubon Society honored the family for their conservation work. More than 30 family members attended. The society's president, John Flicker, said, "Cumulatively, no other family in America has made the contribution to conservation that the Rockefeller family has made."

In 2016, some of John Sr.'s descendants criticized ExxonMobil, one of the companies that came from his original company. They were concerned about ExxonMobil's actions regarding climate change. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Rockefeller Family Fund supported reports that suggested ExxonMobil knew more about global warming than it had shared. David Kaiser, a grandson of David Rockefeller Sr. and president of the Rockefeller Family Fund, said the company seemed "morally bankrupt." Valerie Rockefeller Wayne, daughter of former Senator Jay Rockefeller, said, "Because the source of the family wealth is fossil fuels, we feel an enormous moral responsibility for our children, for everyone -- to move forward." The Rockefeller Brothers Fund announced they would stop investing in fossil fuels in 2014. The Rockefeller Family Fund announced similar plans in 2016. In 2020, the Rockefeller Foundation also promised to sell its fossil fuel investments. This was very important because the Rockefeller Foundation was started with oil money. In 2021, Rebecca Rockefeller Lambert and Peter Gill Case, who are also Rockefeller descendants, announced a new plan called the Equation Campaign to fight new fossil fuel projects.

Where to Find Family History: The Archives

The Rockefeller family's historical records are kept at the Rockefeller Archive Center in Pocantico Hills, New York. You can make an appointment to read the papers of John D. Rockefeller Sr., William Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and many other family members. The Archive Center also has copies of Winthrop Rockefeller's papers, with the originals at the University of Arkansas. Records from the family's main office are also available, but parts that relate to living family members are kept private.

Key Members of the Rockefeller Family

Ancestors

• Godfrey Lewis Rockefeller (1783–1857) and Lucy Avery (1786–1867) had ten children.
  • William Avery Rockefeller Sr. (1810–1906) and Eliza Davison (1813–1889) had eight children, including:
    • John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (1839–1937)
    • William Avery Rockefeller Jr. (1841–1922)

Descendants of John Davison Rockefeller Sr.

As of 2006, there were about 150 direct blood relatives.

• Elizabeth "Bessie" Rockefeller (1866–1906)
• Alta Rockefeller (1871–1962)
• Edith Rockefeller (1872–1932)
• John Davison Rockefeller Jr. (1874–1960) and Abigail Greene "Abby" Aldrich (1874–1948) had six children:
  • Abigail Aldrich "Babs" Rockefeller (1903–1976)
  • John Davison Rockefeller III (1906–1978)
    • John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV (born 1937)
  • Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (1908–1979)
    • Michael Clark Rockefeller (1938–1961)
  • Laurance Spelman Rockefeller (1910–2004)
  • Winthrop Rockefeller (1912–1973)
  • David Rockefeller (1915–2017)
    • David Rockefeller Jr. (born 1941)
    • Abigail Rockefeller (born 1943)
    • Neva Goodwin Rockefeller (born 1944)
    • Margaret Dulany "Peggy" Rockefeller (born 1947)
    • Richard Gilder Rockefeller (1949–2014)
    • Eileen Rockefeller (born 1952)

Who Did the Rockefellers Work With?

Associates

Businesses They Were Involved With

Charities, Colleges, and Non-Profit Groups They Supported

Buildings and Historic Sites Connected to the Rockefellers

See also

In Spanish: Familia Rockefeller para niños