Please support this 70year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers. The lessons of history william james durant, will durant. He was earlier noted for the story of philosophy 1926, described as a groundbreaking work. After some more research i determined these must be william a. At 25, william crapo durant teamed with dallas dort to form the durantdort carriage company, manufacturers of twowheeled carts. The story of philosophy 1 the lives and opinions will durant. Durants father was a successful banker and stock speculator, and his maternal grandfather, henry howland crapo, was a lumber and railroad magnate who was mayor of flint when durant was born and later became governor of michigan. Sloan, my years with general motors and william gustins billy durant. The story of civilization 11 volume set, will durant the story of civilization, by husband and wife will and ariel durant, is an elevenvolume set. Charles stewart mott charles stewart mott 18751973 brought his westonmott company to flint in 1907, becoming gms largest stockholder, and dominated flints political, social, and cultural life through most of. With the completion of their lifes work they look back and ask what history has to say about the nature, the conduct and the prospects of man, seeking in the great lives, the great ideas, the great events of the past for the meaning of mans long journey through war, conquest and creation and for the great themes that can help us to.
Durant s inspiration was the 19thcentury british historian henry thomas buckle, who wrote an introduction to the history of civilization but died in damascus in 1862 before he was able to. It is refreshing to report that billy durant is one of the best researched books dealing with an automotive giant. After establishing a carriage company in michigan in 1886, durant took over a small firm in 1903 and began to. He spent more than fifty years writing his critically acclaimed elevenvolume series, the story of civilization the later volumes. William billy durant is a legend in american history. The story of two unique men, a legendary company, and a remarkable time in american history by william pelfrey 2006, paperback at the best online prices at. But in 1904, after his first time seeing a car in flint, michigan, he was one of the first to see that the future was going to be in a radically new form. At 25, william crapo durant teamed with dallas dort to form the durant dort carriage company, manufacturers of twowheeled carts. A champion of human rights issues, such as the brotherhood of man and social reform, long. The autographed sheet is mounted with glue from the verso onto slightly thicker 412 inch high by 534 inch wide paper.
Durant, founder of general motors by bernard a weisberger book. May 10, 2018 son of stephen harris durant and ann durant husband of rebecca folger durant father of rebecca durant and william billy crapo durant brother of sarah e durant. William james durants text the story of philosophy 2nd ed. He became best known for his work the story of civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife, ariel durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. Billy durant was the consummate salesman, a brilliant wheelerdealer with grand plans, unflappable energy, and a fondness for the high life. Margery pitt durant 18871969 married in 1933 torobert williams daniel 18841940 margery pitt durant 18871969 married in 1933 tofitzhugh green. Today, a canoe landing and short history of the castle are on the site. For lay readers interested in the subject, however, its fine. After a 1908 attempt to merge buick, maxwellbriscoe, ford, and reo proved unsuccessful, durant on sept. Durants father was a successful banker and stock speculator, and his maternal grandfather, henry howland crapo, was a lumber and railroad magnate who was mayor of. Information about william crapo durant from wikipedia. The result is a survey of human history, full of dazzling insights into the nature of human experience, the evolution of civilization, the. After reading through lawrence gustins book on billy durant, i noticed a section stating the early investors in general motors.
The archives at kettering university contain the personal papers of many early automotive pioneers, including some of billy durant. William crapo billy durant december 8, 1861 march 18, 1947 was a leading pioneer of. While it doesnt shed any new light on the history of the automotive industry, madsens workmanlike narrative tells a wellstructured story of innovation, financial. At the turn of the 20 th century, durant was one of the largest makers of horsedrawn carriages, building 150,000 a year. Feel free to submit interesting articles, tell us about this cool book you just read, or start a discussion about who everyones favorite figure of minor french nobility is. He became best known for his work the story of civilization, 11 volumes. Durant, the general motors company was founded in 1908 to consolidate several motorcar. Alfred sloan was the intellectual, an expert in business strategy and management, master of all things organizational. It is 1931, the heirs to a bygone fortune, william west durant and his sister ella are in the last decade of their lives and contemplating their legacy.
Mar 26, 2020 the archives at kettering university contain the personal papers of many early automotive pioneers, including some of billy durant. Timeline of william durants life durant family saga. Durant american industrialist william crapo billy durant 18611947 was an american industrialist. The history of the automobile industry can be understood as a series of dreams. Will durant 18851981 was awarded the pulitzer prize 1968 and the presidential medal of freedom 1977. The story of civilization 11 volume set by will durant. Compare this text to william james durant s paraphrasing of it in his story of philosophy, p. The story of two unique men, a legendary company, and a remarkable time in american history, published by amacom.
For fans of management books, this month marks a big anniversary. His second book, the story of philosophy 1926, sold more than two million copies in less than three decades and was translated into several languages. In this illuminating and thoughtful book, will and ariel durant have succeeded in distilling for the reader the accumulated store of knowledge and experience from their four decades of work on the ten monumental volumes of the story of civilization. The following year his only novel, transition, appeared. Will durants the story of philosophy pages on william james. In a colorful lifetime, william billy crapo durant not only founded general motors building the worlds first automotive conglomerate in the process but clawed his way back after the. Jan 11, 2001 the deal maker by axel maker is a wonderful history of the beginnings of general motors and of the american auto industry. William james will durant was an american writer, historian, and philosopher. Durant would need help from all his family and friends when he. He was earlier noted for the story of philosophy 1924, described as a groundbreaking work that helped to. William married clara miller durant on june 17 1885, at age 23 in genesee, michigan, usa. November 5, 1885 november 7, 1981 was an american writer, historian, and philosopher.
The story of philosophy originated as a series of little blue books educational pamphlets aimed at workers and was so popular it. Discover the family tree of william crapo durant billy for free, and learn about their family history and their ancestry. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Reviewed in the united states on december 14, 2014. William returns to visit the estate he once possessed in the adirondacks to speak with the current owner, copper magnate harold hochschild, who is writing a history of the region and wants to. William crapo billy durant december 8, 1861 march 18, 1947 was a leading pioneer of the united states automobile industry, who created a system in which a company held multiple marques each seemingly independent, with different automobile lines bound under a unified corporate holding company. Will durants the story of philosophy pages on william. Why the future of tesla may depend on knowing what. He was the one who created the multi brand holding system of cars in companies. A leading pioneer of the united states automobile industry, he was the cofounder of general motors, one of the first and the largest corporations in the world. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Durant, a highschool dropout, had made his fortune building horse.
A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, the lessons of history is the result of a lifetime of research from pulitzer prizewinning historians will and ariel durant. Durants inspiration was the 19thcentury british historian henry thomas buckle, who wrote an introduction to the history of civilization but died in damascus in 1862 before he was able to. I love will durants other books, and this one was good, up until the moment it read white races were superior, and he used the word negros. Billy durant, the high school dropout, was the flamboyant dreamer and gambler, focused on personal relationships and risk. Married 28 may 1908 to catherine lederer, born in july 1886 jackson, jackson co. In the case of billy durant, the founder of general motors, he was like his father and also his grandfathereven though the two men were polar opposites.
He spent more than fifty years writing his critically acclaimed elevenvolume series, the story of civilization the later volumes written in conjunction with his wife, ariel. Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. By 1885 he had organized the flint road cart company, which would become a leading manufacturer of horsedrawn carriages. William crapo billy durant december 8, 1861 march 18, 1947 was a leading pioneer of the united states automobile industry, the founder of general motors and chevrolet who created the system of multibrand holding companies with different lines of cars. Names such as cadillac, pontiac, oldsmobile, delco, and includes short biographies of walter chrysler, the dodge brothers and of course the famous ringleader, billy durant. William crapo durant american industrialist britannica. Durants first venture into vehicles was with josiah dort, which would become the durantdort carriage company. It is largely an autobiographical account of his own early. Antique automobile billy durant fills in a masterly way the only important void remaining concerning the work of the motorcar pioneers. A champion of human rights issues, such as the brotherhood of man and social reform, long before such issues.
Willie durant and how he, with wonderful imagination, put together americas largest auto company. The deal maker by axel maker is a wonderful history of the beginnings of general motors and of the american auto industry. Billy durant was the man who conceived general motors, later ousted by gms board of. Heloise timbrell durant, william west durant and ella durant to england on the ss great eastern as the u. A leading pioneer of the united states automobile industry, he was the cofounder of general motors, one of. He is best known for the story of civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife ariel durant and published between 1935 and 1975. Atwood and arthur giles bishop who worked together, along with a few other early gm investors at the. Genealogy for william clark durant 1827 1883 family tree on geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. The complete story of civilization ebook by will durant. Historian and philosopher will durants signature penned on 418 inch high by 512 inch wide creamy white paper.
Will durants writing career began with the publication of philosophy and the social problem 1917. He quit high school to begin work in his grandfathers flint, michigan, lumberyard. The american industrialist william crapo durant 18611947 was the founder of general motors, an automobile manufacturing company. Apr 05, 2006 william pelfrey talked about his book billy, alfred, and general motors. The story of philosophy 1 the lives and opinions will. Will durant project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. In 1904 durant bought out and reorganized buick motor car company. William crapo billy durant was born on december 8 1861, in boston, suffolk, massachusetts, usa, to william clark durant and rebecca folger durant.
William crapo billy durant was a leading pioneer of the united states automobile industry, who created the system of multibrand holding. William durant historical records and family trees myheritage. The founder of what became general motors was william billy durant. The durant story shows how family and entrepreneurship blended to start the largest car company in the world.
William pelfrey talked about his book billy, alfred, and general motors. William durant historical records and family trees. The story of two unique men, a legendary company, and a remarkable time in american history by william pelfrey 2006, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Quotations by will durant, american historian, born november 5, 1885. Durant, a leading pioneer of the automobile industry in the united states. Smith, cofounded general motors, as well as chevrolet. Billy durant typified the courage of american business. We eliminated all end of line hyphens from two word pairs and hyphenated words.
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