Samuel Ullman

Samuel Ullman ( born April 13, 1840 in Hechingen, † March 21, 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama) was an American entrepreneur, writer and benefactor. Today it is known primarily for his work Youth. This book was a favorite book of General Douglas MacArthur. The work was on the bookshelf in his office in Tokyo when he was Supreme Allied Commander in Japan. He often quoted from this book in his speeches, this meant that it was known in Japan than in the United States.

Ullman was the son of Jewish parents, born in 1840 in Hechingen, then capital of the Principality of Hohenzollern - Hechingen. At the age of eleven, he emigrated with his family to the United States to escape the discrimination. The family moved to Port Gibson, Mississippi. After a short time in the Army of the Southern Ullman came to Natchez in Mississippi. There he married, opened a store, was a town councilor and member of the local School Board.

In 1884, Ullman moved to the fledgling city of Birmingham in Alabama and was appointed immediately there in the first council of the city.

During his eighteen years of service, he fought like education rights for black children as white. In addition to his numerous charitable activities Ullman also served as President and then as rabbi of Reform Congregation Emanu -El in the temple. Often controversial but always respected, Ullman left its traces in the religious, educational and social life of Natchez and Birmingham.

In retirement, Ullman found more time for one of his favorite passions - writing letters, essays and poems. His poems, essays and books deal with themes of love, nature, religion, family, the hurried lifestyle of a friend, and " young " lives. General Douglas MacArthur is due mainly to the success Ullman, through his influence, people discovered in Japan Youth and began curious about the author to be.

In 1924 Ullmann died in Birmingham.

Opened in 1994, the Alabama State University in Birmingham and the Japanese -American Society of Alabama, the Samuel Ullman Museum in Birmingham. The museum is located at the point at which formerly Samuel Ullman had lived. The museum is operated by Alabama State University.