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Maurice Warshaw (Samuel Warshawsky) was born 27 November 1898 in Russia to Jewish parents. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1905. The family first lived in Philadelphia then came to Salt Lake City in 1910. Maurice quit school in the sixth grade to work in order to help his family's finances.
He first started helping his father in a junk business and then began peddling fruits and vegetables. From the time he opened his first store (Grand Central in 1928), his philosophy of merchandising, which eventually made him very rich, was volume buying, big displays, lots of advertising and the lowest prices in town.
He started his philanthropic work during World War II. He headed the Russian Relief program in Utah as well as the state's entire USO program. He became involved with service to the handicapped programs when his son, Keith, became a paraplegic after suffering from injuries during a high school football game. Mr. Warshaw was involved in the March of Dimes, the Utah State Vocational Rehabilitation Organization for the Physically Handicapped, and the Utah Society for Crippled Children and Adults.
He later participated on many national and international committees and organizations. He traveled to more than 50 countries representing such organizations as CARE, UNICEF, and Child Welfare. He was involved with the foster care program and was awarded often for this participation.
In 1970, Mr. Warshaw was one of two Utahns to receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Westminster College. Later that year he was one of 50 people to receive the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. He received many accolades from his life's work as a caring humanitarian who made a difference to many people all over the world.
The collection contains approximately 4000 slides of Maurice Warshaw's travels with UNICEF, the Peace Corps, Care Projects as an administrator of areas in Africa, South and Central America, the Soviet Union (Russia), India, Southeast Asia and China. The majority of the slides were taken during the 1960s during Warshaw's involvement with humanitarian service. Numerous slides of scenery as well as slides of open air markets, schools, hospitals, social events, and water reclamation projects are found in the collection. The collection includes two reel-to-reel audiotapes, one cassette tape and four 15-minute Dictaphone tapes.
Maurice Warshaw Photograph Collection, ca. 1940s-1970s, Utah State Historical Society.
Gift of Pat Warshaw Panos (daughter).
The Maurice Warshaw Photograph Collection is the physical property of the Utah Historical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah. Literary rights, including copyright, may belong to the authors or their heirs and assigns. Please contact the Historical Society for information regarding specific use of this collection.