Charles Wason

Background

Wason was born on April 20, 1854 in Cleveland. His father was a banker.

Education

After schooling at the Guildford Academy, he studied for a degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University from 1872 to 1876, returning to Cleveland after his graduation to take a job with the East Cleveland Railway Company.

Career

He rose through the ranks to eventually become president of the Cleveland, Painesville & Eastern Railway Company, as well as running other utility companies. Clark, a publisher by trade, expanded the collection by around 9,000 volumes, including works in Chinese, French, Spanish and Portuguese. A ballroom in Wason"s house, decorated with Chinese imagery, was converted into a library for the collection.

Wason died on April 15, 1918, less than a week before his 64th birthday.

His collection was bequeathed to his alma mater, Cornell University. His will also stipulated an endowment of $50,000 for the acquisition of new titles for the collection.

Connections

Friend:

Arthur H. Clark