Schloss Family Business Papers, 1957-2003
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1852
- Bib ID:
- 12851449 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Schloss, Walter J
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 3.55 linear feet (8 document boxes, 1 other box)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Description
Summary
This collection documents business and legal activities of Walter Schloss and his company from the late 1950s through the early 2000s. It also contains lectures and writings by and about his mentor, Benjamin Graham and personal correspondence with his friend Warren Buffett.
Arrangement
Organized into 1 series.
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Schloss Family Business Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
Accrual
No additions are expected
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Transferred from the Graduate School of Business in Fall 2017. Deed of gift signed by Edwin Schloss on behalf of the family acknowledging the transfer of the collection to the RBML on 16 October 2017.
2017.2018.M039: Source of acquisition--Meredith Trivedi, Esq. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--9/15/2017.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Papers processed by Molly Boord (GS 2021) Fall 2017.
Finding aid written by Jocelyn Wilk October 2017.
Revision Description
2017-11-04 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Biographical / Historical
Walter Schloss was a direct student of Benjamin Graham, and is one of the "Super Investors" mentioned by Warren Buffett in his famous essay, The Super Investors of Graham-And-Doddsville. Schloss was born in 1916 and passed away in 2012 at the age of 95. Schloss never went to college and at 18 years old, he worked as a runner for on Wall Street at Carl M. Loeb & Co. One day, a partner of the company, Armand Erpf, recommended that Schloss read "Security Analysis" by Graham and David Dodd, which had been published a year earlier. The firm then paid for Schloss to take two courses with Graham.
Schloss eventually went to work for the Graham-Newton Partnership and in 1955 Schloss launched his own value fund. Schloss stopped actively managing other people's money in 2003. He then became a treasurer for the Freedom House, a non-profit group devoted to furthering democracy and human rights. From 1955 to 2002, by Schloss' estimate, his investments returned 16% per annum on average after fees, compared with 10% for the S&P 500 over the period.
Upon Schloss' death, Buffett, who was a close friend for more than 60 years released the following statement: "He had an extraordinary investment record, but even more important, he set an example for integrity in investment management. Walter never made a dime off of his investors unless they themselves made significant money. He charged no fixed fee at all and merely shared in their profits. His fiduciary sense was every bit the equal of his investment skills.".
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.