The fortune built by Arthur M. Sackler emerged from revolutionary changes in pharmaceutical advertising and the aggressive promotion of prescription drugs. Beyond his business ventures, he developed a significant personal interest in fine art, eventually amassing a global collection that resulted in the establishment of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution.
Medical Background and Psychiatric Research
Born in Brooklyn in 1913, Arthur Mitchell Sackler graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and the New York University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, later serving as director of research at the Creedmoor Institute for Psychobiological Studies from 1949 to 1954. His clinical focus involved biological psychiatry and neuroendocrinology, and he is documented as an early adopter of ultrasound for diagnostic medical purposes.
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In 1942, Sackler joined the medical advertising firm William Douglas McAdams, eventually acquiring the company in 1947. He modernized the sector by applying direct promotional techniques to the pharmaceutical industry, shifting how physicians learned about new medical treatments. His strategies were instrumental in the growth of companies like Pfizer, particularly during the launch of Terramycin. Throughout the 1960s, he successfully popularized various medications including Valium, Librium, Betadine, and Senaflax.
Art Collection and Legacy
Sackler began acquiring art in the 1940s, eventually amassing a vast collection spanning Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, and pre-Columbian works. He frequently positioned art and science as integrated humanities. Much of his collection was donated to the Smithsonian. Following his death in 1987, his reputation faced significant scrutiny due to the role of his firm, Purdue Pharma, in the opioid crisis, leading many institutions to remove the family name from their galleries.
Fast facts
- Born: 1913, Brooklyn
- Died: 1987, New York City
- Education: Erasmus Hall High School, Grossman School of Medicine
- Primary Occupation: Psychiatrist, pharmaceutical marketer
- Key Institution: Smithsonian Institution
- Estate Value at Death: Approximately $140 million
Questions readers ask
What was the Sackler method?
It was a clinical approach developed in 1951 involving histamine treatments for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and involutional psychosis.
Why were his gallery affiliations removed?
Institutions distanced themselves from the family following Purdue Pharma's central role in the opioid crisis.
Achievements
- Notable work: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Held posts at Smithsonian Institution
