When a wealthy donor gives a substantial amount of money to fund a building or institution, their name is often associated with it. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building that houses the New York Public Library, for example, or the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

But occasionally, a philanthropist comes along who eschews such honors. One of those big donors was Julius Rosenwald, the businessman responsible for the success of Sears, Roebuck in the early 1900s. After a visit to a German museum, he was inspired to create an interactive museum in Chicago. He donated millions of dollars to fund the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), which became—and remains—one of the city’s most popular attractions.

The MSI was renamed the Griffin MSI in 2024, after billionaire Kenneth Griffin, who donated $125 million to the museum. The name change was a bit ironic, considering Rosenwald had refused to let anyone put his name on it.

It wasn’t about anonymity. It was about community.

“The greatest thing about Julius Rosenwald is not his........

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