When Harry Miller was born on June 2, 1889, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his father, Benjamin, was 28 and his mother, Rosa, was 26. He married Ethel Harris in 1912 in his hometown. They had one child during their marriage. He died on November 14, 1962, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the age of 73.

From Ethel Miller Katz: My youngest brother, Harry, bless his soul, was so good to me. He opened a very swank dress shop on Market St. in Chattanooga. Later he sold it for one million dollars and offered his services to the army during the Second World War. He became a dollar-a-year man at the Pentagon with the rank of colonel. He passed away at 75 years of age but he left me a legacy in my precious niece, Eleanor Sylvia Miller Schwartz, who is so dear to me.

From the Institute of Southern Jewish Life:

Chattanoogan Harry Miller organized the Chattanooga Jewish Welfare Agency in 1931, supporting Jewish and public causes in Chattanooga and around the country. In 1938, the CJWA obtained a formal charter as the Chattanooga Jewish Federation. The Chattanooga Jewish Community Center was organized in 1944 and operated independently until merging with the Federation in 1993

Economic Growth

In the first half of the 20th century Chattanooga emerged as a major center for manufacturing and industry, earning the city the nickname “The Dynamo of Dixie.” Jewish residents played a central role in the city’s economic growth, engaging in a wide variety of industries and businesses. Some worked in retail, building many of Chattanooga’s largest stores. In 1920, Abe and Lou Effron opened a large clothing store that soon occupied a three-story building at the corner of Sixth and Market Streets. In 1921, Harry Miller, founder of the CJWA, opened The Vogue, a high-end ladies retail shop that operated for over half a century.

From a Scholarship Donor Form completed by Eleanor Miller Schwartz, his daughter:

He served in the military for almost 5 years. He retired at the age of 49. Rather than try to amass great wealth, he wanted to dedicate the remainder of this life to the service of his community which he sincerely loved.

From a recommendation by the Mayor of Chattanooga

January 10, 1957

Mr. Miller is a man of untiring effort and is always doing for others without consideration for himself, and as a result of his genuine interest in the well being of other people, his conscientious planning of various projects, and his generous contribution of time to the numerous organizations, we sincerely believe he has made Chattanooga a better place in which to live.

I would like to mention some of the many and various contributions Harry Miller has made for the benefit of his fellow-man and for which we feel he is worthy of National recognition as a token of appreciation for his many accomplishments. Mr. Miller was president of the Retail Merchants Association for approximately eleven years and was elected honorary member of their board on retirement from the presidency; was president of the Chattanooga Symphony Association and is on the board of the Chattanooga Philharmonic Association which is the successor to the Symphony Association; past president of the Mizpah Congregation; on the board of the Mizpah Congregation.

Harry Miller is now serving on the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association, Chattanooga Federal Savings and Loan Association, the Chattanooga Automobile Club, the Chattanooga Opera Association, Chattanooga Art Association, Half Century Club, Chattanoogan's, Inc. of which he has served as vice-president; the Chattanooga Board of Education, and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. He was president of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce for the years 1936 and 1937.

Harry Miller's contributions of time and effort to our many charitable organizations is an inspiration to all who know him. He is on the advisory com-mittee of the Florence Crittendon Home, and the Bonny Oaks School; on the executive committee of the Chattanooga Chapter of the American Red Cross for several years and, also, on the Budget Committee of the Community Chest for several years; on the board of directors of the United Fund Group. Harry Miller was president and one of the organizers of the Chattanooga Welfare Federation for approximately ten years and was elected honorary president on retirement from that office.

Mr. Miller was vice-president and chairman of the building committee for the Hamilton County Memorial Hospital and was elected Chairman of the Board after Memorial Hospital was completed. This hospital has a capacity of 186 beds and is a building that was greatly needed in the Chattanooga area. He was president of the Hamilton County Tuberculosis Association for two years; was one of the organizers of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Council and is at present on the executive committee. Mr. Miller is vice-chairman of the Hamilton County Society for Crippled Children; vice-chairman of the Hamilton County Unit of the American Cancer Society; was president of the Travelers' Aid Society for two years and is still on the board of directors; president of the Cherokee Area Council of Boy Scouts for two years and is currently on the board of directors; was awarded the "Silver Beaver" the Boy Scouting's highest award for a volunteer worker for service to boyhood. He was, also, awarded the Kiwanis Club Service Award; there are still other organizations that Mr. Miller has untiringly devoted his efforts in order that these organizations can be of the most benefit to his fellow-man.

I am sure a detailed biography has been furnished you so I will not dwell at length on the many and varied civic contributions Harry Miller has made toward the betterment of Chattanooga.

It is our hope that you will be as impressed as we are with the life history of this very remarkable man and that our request will receive favorable consideration.

From the office of the mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee, P. R. Olgiati, Mayor