Part 4: Managing Adversity

MoAF Founder John Herzog: An Oral History
This six-part series features an oral history interview with John E. Herzog, founder and chairman emeritus of the Museum of American Finance (MoAF). It was filmed in November 2022 in partnership with the MoAF and Heritage Werks.
About John E. Herzog
A life-long collector of financial documents and memorabilia, Mr. Herzog donated a large part of his collection to the Museum of American Finance upon its founding in 1989. He spent his active business career at Herzog Heine Geduld, Inc., which was founded in 1926 by his father. He joined the firm in 1959 and spearheaded its expansion into the third-largest Nasdaq market maker in the country. He retired from the firm as Chairman Emeritus when Merrill Lynch acquired the firm in 2000. This story is told in the book A Billion to One (Museum of American Finance, 2017).
Mr. Herzog is also the former Chairman of R.M. Smythe & Co., Inc., one of the world’s premier auction houses, specializing in antique stocks and bonds, bank notes, coins, autographs and photographs. A graduate of Cornell University and the New York University Stern School of Business, he is a former member of the NYU Stern School Board of Overseers, former President of the Board of the Fairfield Museum and a member of the American Antiquarian Society, Grolier Club, Down Town Association and the Union League Club in New York. He is a Board member of the Lower Manhattan Historical Association and the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society and a past member of the Board of the Pequot Library in Southport, CT. Mr. Herzog is also a Trustee Emeritus of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, VA, and was a member of the Board of Regents of Long Island College Hospital. He is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal.
About the Museum of American Finance
As a socially relevant organization, the Museum of American Finance seeks to improve understanding of the influence of financial institutions and capital markets on the US and global economies, and on individuals’ lives. The nation’s only independent museum dedicated to finance and financial history educates the public through exhibits, financial literacy programs and public events. The Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, seeks to empower individuals of all backgrounds to strive toward financial independence, while encouraging curiosity and discovery. For more information, visit www.moaf.org or connect with the Museum on social media @FinanceMuseum.
About Heritage Werks
Heritage Werks provides archival services for many of the largest corporations and organizations in North America. This includes archival management, preservation, disaster preparedness, digitization and digital asset management. They also maintain virtual vault sites for brands, professional sports teams and museums. They are currently in the process of cataloging and digitizing the Museum of American Finance’s collection.