Book, Economicology by Peter M. Wege


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Books ➔ Book, Economicology by Peter M. Wege

Identifier:
2015.4.1
Description:
This object is a soft-cover book of 154 pages entitled "Economicology, The Eleventh Commandment" written and autographed by Peter M. Wege.

This book derives its historical, cultural, and scientifiic significance from its author and his progressive views on the environment.  Peter Wege was an important philanthropist and environmentalist who supported many organizations in Grand Rapids and around the world.  This book, and its later companion, "Economicology II" laid out Wege's theory that caring about the environment and making money were not mutually exclusive propositions.  He coined the word "Economicology" to describe this blend of economy and ecology  
Date:
1998
Materials:
Paper
Dimensions:
8" h 8" w .5" d
Current Location Status:
In Storage
Source:
Gift of the Wege Foundation
Links:
http://www.wegefoundation.com/tag/economicology/
Related Entities:
Wege Foundation (donor)

​Peter Melvin Wege created the Wege Foundation in 1967 with its first project to clean up the water, air and land in West Michigan through his newly established Center for Environmental Study.  Since then, the foundation has continued to enhance the lives of people in West Michigan and to preserve the health of the environment.  ​

Peter Melvin Wege (creator)
Peter Melvin Wege was a member of the Steelcase Board of Directors for 50 years, ​but he​ was probably best known as a philanthropist who made significant and lasting contributions to ​education and environmental causes in his West Michigan community ​and around the world.

Wege's father, Peter Martin Wege, founded the Metal Office Furniture Company in Grand Rapids in 1912, which went on to become Steelcase, the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world​.  As a young man while attending the University of Michigan, Peter enlisted in the Army Air Force after Pearl Harbor, and served his country as a First Lieutenant multi-engine pilot until 1946.​ He joined Steelcase in 1946, working in a series of executive posts including sales, design and as an officer of the Board of Directors and the Steelcase Foundation Board.

As a fervent environmentalist, Peter's visionary influence resulted in Steelcase becoming one of the world's earliest environmental manufacturers, long before "green" became mainstream.  In 1967, he created The Wege Foundation with its first project to clean up the water, air and land in West Michigan through his newly established Center for Environmental Study.  At his urging, Steelcase went public in 1998, and shortly afterwards in 2000, he resigned as the company's vice chairman to work full-time on his foundation.  ​

Related Objects:
Related Place:
Grand Rapids