Beatrice Fox Auerbach

Beatrice Fox Auerbach (July 17, 1887 – November 29, 1968) was an American philanthropist, educator, labor reform pioneer, and president and director of G. Fox & Co. from 1938 to 1959. Upon her father's death in 1938, she took over the Hartford, Connecticut-based G. Fox & Co. Under her stewardship, it became the largest department store in New England.

While executive of this enterprise she also led the nation in labor reform programs such as the 40-hour work week and a retirement program. on July 17, 1887, in Hartford, Connecticut. Born to Moses and Theresa Fox, she was the eldest of two daughters. Her father Moses was the son of Gerson Fox, founder of the G. Fox and Co. department store in Hartford, an enterprise of which she would later become the president. Beatrice was well traveled and attended several schools, although she did not obtain a degree. After marrying George Auerbach in 1911, she moved to Salt Lake City, where his family owned a department store.

Adult life In 1916, Auerbach gave birth to her first child, Georgette. In 1917, the family returned to Hartford to recover from a fire at G. Fox & Co. Through her foundation, Auerbach donated to organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education, and made contributions to St. Francis, Mt. Sinai, and Hartford hospitals, and to subsidized programs for the Hartford Symphony and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

Auerbach major Because of her work as one of the few women in business administration, Auerbach decided to form a major that prepared young women for higher-level positions. She felt that because “There [were] a number of institutions offering such preparation to young men. The need of more such opportunities for young women [was] self-evident.” From 1938–1959, she worked with the Connecticut College for Women (now Connecticut College) in a retailing program. To gain this degree Auerbach proposed that women take classes in psychology, history, foreign language, economics, and English, focusing on business correspondence. During their junior year, the women would take part in a service learning at a business in their field to gain real-life experience. This major was not seen as a new department, but a collaboration between Gov, home economics, social science, and art. To start this program, Auerbach donated $1,350 ($22,634.25 USD today) for the preliminary planning period, and $10,000 ($167,661.11 today) for the two-year development of the major. Chase Going Woodhouse, an economics professor at Connecticut College at the time, described Auerbach as having a “forward way of looking at education.”

Examples of the classes taken: Economic History Social and Intellectual History Basic Statistical Concepts Accounting Banking Corporation Finance Investment Principles Insurance Labor problems After graduating, the women who completed the Auerbach Major went on to do great things: seven women ended up in department store work; eight were working for the government, two in Naval intelligence, and one working for the Office of Price Administration, where it was said that her experience through the Auerbach major led them to hire her; one was a travelling instructor for a large business machine company, along with many other accomplishments.

Although the major was dissolved in 1959, the Auerbach Foundation continued to support a lecture series at the college. In 1951, the Auerbach foundation supported the Service Bureau for Women’s Organizations Conference at Connecticut College.

Awards and recognition Auerbach was on the board of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati and won numerous awards, including the Tobe award for distinguished service by others in her industry, a certificate of lifetime membership in the NAACP, "Boss of the Year" from the Greater Hartford Jaycees, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the State Bar Association in 1962 and the Human Relations Award of the Connecticut-Western Massachusetts Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1964.

The School of Business Administration at the University of Hartford named Auerbach Hall in her honor, the library at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art was renamed the Auerbach Art Library, and a new unit was built under her name at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT.

Awards she received included: Tobé Award, given to a retailer who benefits their community and retailing nationwide (1947) "Boss of the Year" from the Greater Hartford Jaycees (1952) The Distinguished Public Service Award from the State Bar Association (1962) The Human Relations Award of the Connecticut-Western Massachusetts Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (1964). She also received posthumous induction into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. Recognition in other forms included honorary degrees at Trinity College, Saint Joseph College, and Wesleyan University. The School of Business Administration at the University of Hartford named Auerbach Hall in her honor The library at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art was renamed as the Auerbach Art Library