Max C. Fleischmann Foundation Records

The Max C. Fleischmann Foundation was created by Mr. Fleischmann (often referred to as the Major) through an inter vivos trust document dated March 23, 1951; his last will and testament of May 11, 1945; and three codicils to his will, the last of which was dated March 23, 1951. These documents specified how the Foundation was to be administered, who the initial trustees would be, and what types of organizations would be eligible to receive grants or contributions from the Foundation. The trust document guided the Foundation until Mr. Fleischmann's death on October 16, 1951, after which the Foundation operated under terms of his will and codicils.

The purpose of the trust was to distribute funds for specific projects of religious, educational, charitable and scientific non-profit organizations in the United States (non-profit as defined by the United States Internal Revenue Service). Funds granted were to come from interest earned on the Foundation's extensive portfolio of stocks and bonds which in turn constituted the bulk of the Major's estate.

Mr. Fleischmann believed that each generation should learn to care for itself so the life of the Foundation was purposely limited under terms of his will. All funds were to be distributed within twenty years from the date of the death of the Major's widow, Sarah Hamilton Fleischmann, who died July 4, 1960; by July 4, 1980 all of the Foundation's assets had been liquidated and the proceeds distributed in "termination grants."

During the existence of the Foundation the Trustees made 1,962 grants totaling $192,037,457.82 to 790 grantees. The University of Nevada System received the largest amount in 45 grants totaling $19,375,037.37. (Source: Trustees' Accounts, Series 2, Box 3: "Fourteenth Combined Report and Account of the Estate of Max C. Fleischmann, Deceased, and the Max C. Fleischmann Foundation; and Fourth and Final Termination Report and Petition for Termination of Trust and Release of Trustees," 1980.) These grants assisted such projects as the construction of the Planetarium, Home Economics and Agriculture buildings; establishment of the Desert Research Institute; and purchase of the College Inn. Nevada was also the recipient of many other millions of dollars in grants, ranging from scholarships established for high school seniors, Indians, students of Fish and Game and Forestry, and medical and dental students; to hospitals and libraries for all Nevada counties; and organizations such as Boys' Clubs and the YMCA. Likewise, grants awarded to organizations in other states covered a wide range of projects and activities.

The Foundation was governed and operated personally by members of the Board of Trustees with the assistance of up to three paid secretaries. The Trustees' active management of the Foundation was a unique situation in foundation management in the United States, where such large foundations typically are managed by a professional staff supervised (in some cases, nominally) by a board of directors or trustees. The trustees' close management of the Fleischmann Foundation's activities, combined with the fact that the Trustees were all known and/or selected personally by Mr. Fleischmann, resulted in faithful adherence to the Major's preferences and philosophy of grant giving. The list of trustees who served over the twenty-nine year existence of the Foundation is a brief one:

* Sarah Hamilton Fleischmann (1881-1960), served March 23, 1951 to July 4, 1960 * Lester D. Summerfield (1888-1966), served March 23, 1951 to November 7, 1966 * Julius Bergen (1896-1987), served March 23, 1951 to termination of the Foundation (July 4, 1980) * Walter G. Dunnington (1891-1971), served June 12, 1951 to May 21, 1971 * Sessions S. Wheeler, served November 29, 1951 to termination * Francis R. Breen, served February 1, 1959 to termination * Thomas L. Little, served July 26, 1960 to termination * Walter Orr Roberts, served June 1, 1967 to termination

Sessions S. Wheeler's biography of Max C. Fleischmann describes the Major's interests which were continued by the Foundation. The book is Gentleman in the Outdoors: A Portrait of Max C. Fleischmann, published by the University of Nevada Press in 1985.The collection was donated to the Special Collections Department by the Foundation Trustees in 1987.