New York Stock Brokers: Rudolph Keppler & Company

Rudolph Keppler

President, New York Stock Exchange, 1898-1903

RUDOLPH KEPPLER & CO.

SEP

22

1898

In April 1903, President of the New York Stock Exchange Rudolph Keppler inaugurated a new stock exchange building and floor.  This building remains the NYSE's home today.  The New York Times of April 24, 1903, reported on the first day of trading in the new exchange:

BROKERS ON NEW FLOOR

Struggle to Make First Transaction on Stock Exchange.

Opening Day in the Marble Building Not Strong for Securities--Medals for Committeemen and Gavel for President Keppler.

The members of the New York Stock Exchange settled down to business yesterday in their new quarters.  The flowers and decorations of the day before had all been removed, and the big board room wore a strictly businesslike aspect, except for a big twenty-four-foot wreath of flowers sent by the Produce Exchange.  President Rudolph himself presided at the opening of the day's business, and there was a large attendance of brokers on the floor.

When the gavel fell many brokers vied with each other for the honor of making the first transaction.  Of course, where business is begun all over the room at one and the same time, it is a difficult matter to determine such a 'first transaction,"  but the ticker reported it as 100 shares of Mexican Central at 27.   The sale was made by Charles Gregory to Zimmermann & Forshay.  The next recorded transaction was in Chicago Great Western, while succeeding transaction, in their order, were Colorado Southern, Pennsylvania, Rock Island, and St. Louis and San Francisco...

After the close of business the Governors of the Exchange held their first meeting in the new building.  Besides the routine matters, the meeting transacted some special business.  This was the presentation of certain marks of appreciation to the members of the Building Committee.  This committee consisted of Ransom H. Thomas, Chairman, Rudolph Keppler, J. T. Aterbury, R. P. Doremus, H. G. S. Noble, and Ernest Groesbeck.

To each one of these members was presented a gold medal five inches in diameter, of pure gold, value of over $500, and a set of resolutions.  The gold medals were framed in a case of leather, which was so arranged that when opened it showed both sides of the medal.  They were designed and made by Tiffany & Co.  On one side was an embossed picture showing every detail of the Broad Street facade of the new Stock Exchange, and on the other was the following inscription: "The New York Stock Exchange to ____ (here the name of the committeeman was inserted) in grateful recognition of services rendered during the construction of the Stock Exchange Building.  MDCCCCIII." ...

The ivory and gold gavel which was given to the Exchange on Christmas, 1900, for the purpose of closing the old century, opening the new, and closing the old building and opening the new, was presented to President Keppler, who has presided over the Exchange for nearly five years, longer than any of his predecessors.

Scott 2630c, NYSE commemorative invert from 1992 sold in 2010 Siegel rarities of the world sale.  The stamp features an inverted facade of the Broad Street front of the Exchange.