Emanuel S. Mendels

Emanuel S. Mendels, Jr. was a leading curbstone broker who organized the Curb Market Agency in 1908 that developed appropriate trading rules for curbstone brokers. In 1911, Mendels and his advisors drew up a constitution and formed the New York Curb Market Association, which can be considered as the first formal constitution of American Stock Exchange, today known as the NYSE Amex Equities. Mendels died in 1911, after becoming seriously ill from ptomine poisoning.

Mendels was born in New Orleans in 1850. His father, who had a small business was also active in Whig politics. After his parents moved to New Jersey, Mendels was employed at a brokerage house during the post war boom period. After four years of working in the brokerage firm, he left his position to be a curbstone broker.