Title
Victor Hugo Friedman, 1878-1965
Subject
Philanthropist
University of Alabama
Businessmen
Description
Hugo Friedman, a native of Tuscaloosa and a local philanthropist, was born October 13, 1878. He played football, baseball, and tennis at the University of Alabama from 1894-1897. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering but after two years as an engineer he went into the cotton business.
He was a charter member of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club and was also a supporter of the Red Cross. During World War I he spent 12 months doing that work with Italian troops in the Alps.
In 1955 he made a gift to Tuscaloosa that provided a home for the library and land for a YMCA building. The YMCA purchased the Burchfield home (Jemison Van De Graaff mansion) for $70,000 which was then exchanged for the north half of the block where the Battle-Friedman home is located. Friedman then deeded the Burchfield home to the county to be used as the public library to be called the Friedman Library.
He left the Battle-Friedman House to the City of Tuscaloosa in his will. The City of Tuscaloosa received the house in 1965, however the house is currently operated by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.
He was a charter member of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club and was also a supporter of the Red Cross. During World War I he spent 12 months doing that work with Italian troops in the Alps.
In 1955 he made a gift to Tuscaloosa that provided a home for the library and land for a YMCA building. The YMCA purchased the Burchfield home (Jemison Van De Graaff mansion) for $70,000 which was then exchanged for the north half of the block where the Battle-Friedman home is located. Friedman then deeded the Burchfield home to the county to be used as the public library to be called the Friedman Library.
He left the Battle-Friedman House to the City of Tuscaloosa in his will. The City of Tuscaloosa received the house in 1965, however the house is currently operated by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Date
1955
Contributor
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
214
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
8 inches x 10 inches