Daniel J. Terra

Daniel James Terra
Born	1911-06-08 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	June 28, 1996(1996-06-28) (aged 85) Washington, D.C.
Occupation	Chemical Engineering
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Adeline Evans Richards(her death) Judith Banks (1986-1996) (his death)

Daniel J. Terra (born 8th June 1911, died 28th June 1996) was a scientist, businessman, and art collector. A first-generation Italian-American, Terra earned a chemical engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1931, and founded Lawter Chemicals in Chicago in 1940. The success of his global enterprise enabled him to pursue his cultural interests, assembling an art collection and participating in several Chicago arts institutions.^[1]

Early life

Daniel J. Terra, the grandson of lithographers who immigrated from Italy, was raised in Pennsylvania. He worked as an apprentice in his family's shop while studying chemistry. Through his undergraduate thesis research, he discovered a new ink vehicle, which allowed printing presses to run faster than ever before, leading to the creation of Life magazine, the first news-picture publication. In 1940, Terra borrowed funds from a friend, John Lawson and founded a printing-chemical firm, Lawter Chemicals, one of the world largest producers of printing inks and chemicals.

Terra's interest in art and collecting began in 1937 when he married Adeline Evans Richards, a painter and a student of art history.^[2]

Terra was finance chairman of Ronald Reagan's 1980 Presidential campaign and was rewarded by being named the United State's first and only Ambassador at Large for Cultural Affairs, serving in that post from 1981-07-15 to 1989-01-27.^[3][4]

Terra founded the Terra Museum of American Art, which after his death became the object of a court case when his widow attempted to have the museum moved from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C. The museum subsequently closed to be merged with the Art Institute of Chicago.^[5][6]

References

1. ^ Hughes, Robert (1987-08-10). "How To Start a Museum" (in English). Time Magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965186-2,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
2. ^ Pace, Eric (1996-07-01). "Daniel J. Terra, 85, Founder of Art Museum in Giverny, Dies" (in English). New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B05E5D81339F932A35754C0A960958260. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
3. ^ "Ambassadors at Large, 1949-2005". United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/3674.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
4. ^ "Nominations & Appointments, February 11, 1981". Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. National Archives and Records Administration. http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/21181a.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
5. ^ Jones, James (2005-08-19). "The Art Of Political Fundraising" (in English). Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/2005/lips0819.html. Retrieved 2008-04-01. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ Buntrock v. Terra, 1-01-3152 (1St District Illinois May 2004). Text

External links

• "Daniel Terra and American Art: From Private Collector to Public Champion". Portfolio V (1): 48–53. January-February 1983. 
• Barron, Fraser (June 1987). "A mission renewed: The survival of the national endowment for the arts, 1981–1983". Journal of Cultural Economics (Springer Netherlands) 11 (1): 22–74. doi:10.1007/BF00148070. http://www.springerlink.com/content/lgh687lu54u6/. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
• Twelfth Hour at the Terra
• Terra Foundation

Persondata
Name	Terra, Daniel J.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1911-06-08
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death	1996-06-28
Place of death	Washington, D.C.