This investment firm was founded in 1864 by Joseph Seligman and his seven brothers. Originally the brothers ran a dry goods business. In New York, the Seligmans were located for a time at One William Street, on whose site they built the Seligman building in 1907. In its early years, the firm helped finance the U. S. Government in the Civil War by placing $200 million of its bonds in Europe-an undertaking as difficult as stopping Lee at Gettysburg. The $500-denominated bonds were engraved with the statement that they bore interest at 10 cents per day. But the Europeans were not impressed with the credit. Later, J. & W. Seligman & Co. was appointed the U. S. Navy's Fiscal Agent by President Grant, joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1869 (and thus was one of its oldest members), and helped finance a broad spectrum of industrial America, from railroads to motor cars and talking machines. It also helped finance the Panama Canal and raised billions of dollars for Great Britain, France, and Italy during World War I. Today, it is an investment advisory firm, managing portfolios for pension funds, and a large family of mutual funds. The firm manages the family of Seligman Funds, many of which are known as industry leaders in their respective categories, especially the Seligman Communications and Information Fund. Tri-Continental Corp. is one of the oldest and is certainly the largest closed-end fund in the country. Seligman has a rare investment perspective of over 135 years that spans bull and bear markets, panics, wars, depressions and prosperity.