Joseph Mailman

Who is Joseph Mailman?

Joseph Lawrence Mailman was a U.S. businessman and philanthropist.

Mailman was the son of Jewish immigrants. Along with his brother Abraham, Mailman founded the Utica Knife and Razor Company in 1920, which was later named the Mailman Corporation and was one of the first Conglomerates to have been formed. He and his brother started the Persona Blade Company in 1928, the British Rubber Company in 1934, and was chairman of Air Express International.

In addition to his successful business career, he engaged in numerous philanthropic pursuits, especially health and education causes. He was a leading fundraiser for the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. He also assisted families escaping horrors of Nazi Germany. With his brother, he established the Mailman Foundation in 1943, which continues his charitable work. In recognition of a US$33 million gift from the foundation, the School of Public Health at Columbia University was named the Mailman School of Public Health in his honor.