Joseph N. Pew Jr. was a remarkable business leader and philanthropist. He was the son of the founder of Sun Oil Company, Joseph N. Pew Sr.
Joseph N. Pew Jr. took over as president of Sun Oil in 1938, leading the company through a period of significant growth and expansion. He played a key role in establishing the company's presence in the Midwest and beyond.
Under his leadership, Sun Oil invested heavily in research and development, leading to the discovery of new oil fields and the development of new technologies. This helped to further establish the company as a major player in the industry.
Joseph N. Pew Jr.'s philanthropic efforts were also notable, with a particular focus on education and the arts.
About Sun Oil
Sun Oil was founded by Joseph N. Pew Sr. in 1890, and his son Joseph N. Pew Jr. began working there after graduation in 1908.
The company's Marcus Hook Refinery, operational in early 1902, was a key factor in Sun Oil's success, and the Pew brothers were instrumental in its expansion.
Joseph N. Pew Jr. played a crucial role in developing the company's infrastructure, including laying gasoline pipelines from the Marcus Hook refinery to distribution points in Ohio, New York, and New Jersey.
The Pew brothers also expanded into the shipbuilding business in 1916, establishing the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania, which would become the largest private shipyard and biggest producer of oil tankers in America by World War II.
Under Joseph N. Pew Jr.'s leadership, Sun Oil developed a commitment to its employees, never laying off a single employee during the Great Depression and implementing one of the first stock-sharing plans for employees.
The company also made significant technological advancements, including the development of a gyroscopic instrument with a high-speed camera and timing device to prevent drilling crooked holes in oil wells, which received a patent in 1926.
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Philanthropy
Joseph N. Pew Jr. was a dedicated philanthropist who made a lasting impact through his charitable efforts. In 1948, he and his siblings founded The Pew Charitable Trusts, a group of philanthropic foundations that support social needs around the world.
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The Pew Charitable Trusts is a significant organization that has made a substantial difference in various areas, including education. One notable example is the grant given to Cornell University, where the Pew Engineering Quad and an engineering professorship bear his name.
Pew's philanthropic efforts also extended to assisting traditionally black colleges. In 1951, he began an effort to support these institutions, hiring Cornell alumnus Jerome H. Holland as a consultant to the foundation.
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