Who Is Arthur Harrison Motley? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Arthur Harrison Motley was born on August 22, 1900, in the United States. He made significant contributions to the business and publishing industries before his passing in 1984. As of 2025, he would have celebrated his 125th birthday if he were still with us. His life and work are commemorated in various publications and historical accounts, highlighting his role as a pioneering figure in American entrepreneurship.
| Occupation | Business |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 22, 1900 |
| Age | 83 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | |
| Date of death | 30 May, 1984 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Arthur Harrison Motley's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements of Arthur Harrison Motley’s height and weight during his lifetime are not publicly documented, it's essential to remember that physical attributes are only a small part of his legacy. His impact on the business world is what truly defines him.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Arthur Harrison Motley was married to his wife, who supported him in his entrepreneurial ventures. Details on his immediate family, including children, remain private, reflecting his desire for a separation between his personal life and public persona.
He was raised on his parents' farm, where his father had to supplement the family income by working in road construction. At 13, he launched his first business, "M&G Company": in partnership with his cousin John Groff, he hired a horse and wagon, and the two boys collected ashes and delivered manure and topsoil.
When he began high school, his parents moved the family into Minneapolis each winter so that he could have access to better education.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 1984, Arthur Harrison Motley had established a substantial net worth through his successful career in business and publishing. His business acumen led him to accumulate wealth, although specific figures related to his net worth during his lifetime are not readily available. Today, his legacy continues to influence aspiring entrepreneurs.
When Motley resumed his education, he supported himself through a variety of jobs, including door-to-door salesman and night watchman. He also encountered Professor Frank M. Rarig, who assessed him as shy due to "an inferiority complex" and recommended that he participate in public speaking contests and campus theater activities.
By senior year, Motley's primary source of income was theater and the Chautauqua circuit.
Career, Business, and Investments
Arthur Harrison Motley was notably recognized for his pioneering work in the publishing industry. He co-founded several publishing companies and played a crucial role in developing literature that influenced American culture. His keen business insights led to the successful management of diverse ventures across multiple sectors, making him a notable figure among American entrepreneurs of his time.
He next spent a year teaching English at Hamline University in Saint Paul, after which "the faculty decided that this was not [his] vocation". While at Hamline, he had served as Assistant General Secretary of the Zeta Psi fraternity; he subsequently returned to New York, where he became Zeta Psi's general secretary in 1923.
He held this position for four years, during which he visited universities throughout North America, launching new Zeta Psi chapters and reviving old ones. In 1927, he attended Columbia Law School, but left after a year.
Social Network
Though cellular technology and social media were not part of Arthur Harrison Motley’s life, his legacy is commemorated across various platforms today. Social networks and online forums regularly discuss his contributions to business and publishing, ensuring that future generations recognize his impact.
Motley was an "early member" of Alcoholics Anonymous, and later stated that he was "one of the high-strung people who just can't live with liquor (and) never again, under any circumstances, would I take a drink"; by 1982, he had been sober for 50 years.
He attributed his habit of "clipping out news items about people he knew and mailing them to the subjects with brief notes of congratulations" written in red pencil crayon—which he did an estimated 10,000 times per year—to the need to build social bonds with clients despite being unable to go drinking with them; The Washington Post stated that
he had been inspired in this by James Farley, who had a similar habit except that Farley used green ink.
Some sources attribute his nickname "Red" to this habit, while others attribute it to his red hair.
Education
While specific details about his educational background are sparse, it can be inferred that Arthur Harrison Motley had a robust understanding of business principles and marketing strategies, as evidenced by his success in the publishing sector.
His freshman year at the University of Minnesota was interrupted by the First World War; he enlisted in the United States Army and "spent the war guarding the Willys-Overland building in St. Paul".
