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Colonel E. H. R. Green estate tax case records, 1916-1939, bulk 1921-1936.
Amount:
1 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
By subject.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
Edward Howland Robinson "Ned" Green (1868-1936) was born in London, England, to Henrietta "Hetty" (Robinson) and Edward Green. Hetty was estimated to be the richest woman in the world for much of her life, amassing a fortune in excess of $150 million by Ned's childhood years, and her husband, Edward, brought a few million dollars to the marriage. Despite the family's wealth, however, Ned and his sister, Sylvia, were not raised in luxury. Hetty's reputation as a notorious miser extended to the upbringing of her children; the Green siblings attended public schools and wore patchwork clothes as cost-saving measures. After an injury in Ned's teenage years, Hetty's refusal to pay for medical treatment resulted in the amputation of his leg, requiring him to wear a cork prosthetic for the rest of his life.
In adulthood, Ned did not share his mother's financial philosophies. He purchased and renovated lavish properties in New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Florida as personal residences, owned over 25 cars and four yachts, invested considerable funds in radio and television, and was well-known in collector's circles for his coin, stamp, and pornography collections. Ned amassed additional fortune as president of the Texas Midland Railroad, a gift from his mother, and his investment shares in other railroad companies and real estate development.
After the death of his mother in 1916, Ned married Mabel Harlow (1871-1950), a sex worker from Chicago. In 1924, Ned and Mabel purchased three lots on Star Island in Miami Beach, Florida, and spent the next two years turning the existing yacht club on the property into a residential estate. Although he did not reside in Florida year-round, Ned reported that the climate helped ease his rheumatism and other health issues. The Greens were very involved in local social and civic activities during their periods in residence at 46 Star Island, donating thousands of dollars to organizations such as the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Kennel Club, airplane and watercraft racing clubs, the Boy Scouts, and a myriad of others. Ned also invested in local arts and culture ventures, as well as businesses such as the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, which received $5,000 to repair and equip the rechristened "Colonel E. H. R. Green's Children's Pavilion" in 1933.
At the time of his death in 1936, Ned Green maintained regular residences in Terrell, Texas; South Dartmouth, Massachusetts; and Star Island, Florida; resulting in a large-scale legal battle for the inheritance tax on his estate. Ultimately, the Supreme Court declared Massachusetts as Ned's chief residence and granted all inheritance tax to that state. Nearly all of Ned's remaining estate was left to his sister, Sylvia, who donated or sold his properties, vehicles, and collections, including the donation of his Massachusetts home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for use as a radio science laboratory.
Summary:
This series contains four volumes of "Florida Exhibits" compiled by the Florida Attorney General's office as part of the bid to secure Edward Howland Robinson "Ned" Green's estate tax over Texas and Massachusetts. These volumes highlight Green's home, business, and social activities in Miami Beach and Dade County, presented through photographs, correspondence, news clippings, and business receipts generated between 1916 and 1936 and compiled for the court around 1938.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available
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Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Associated Materials:
For more records of the Colonel Green estate case, see "Colonel Green case file, 1938-1939," Massachusetts Archives (Collection ID AG1/584X).
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Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
This collection consist of found materials with unknown provenance.
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Green, E. H. R. 1868-1936 (Edward Howland Robinson),
Florida. Attorney General.
Court records. People with disabilities Florida. Deeds Florida --Dade County Associations, institutions, etc.
Clippings. aat Deeds. aat Tax records. aat Letters. aat Financial records. aat Registers (lists) aat Contracts. aat
Miami Beach (Fla.)
for detailed listing.