Upton Sinclair, 1878-1968, was an American novelist, journalist, and political activist. His works are considered historical documentations of America's Progressive Era, and his writings helped prompt public awareness and reforms across multiple industries. He is most well-known for his novel, The Jungle, which exposed the unsanitary conditions of the meat-packing industry and led to the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943.

Adolf Keller, 1872-1983, was a Swiss clergyman and theologian. During World War II, he became a leading figure in the Ecumenical Movement, which sought to unite churches across the globe regardless of religious denomination. He taught and lectured for church reform internationally and within Switzerland and helped head efforts to offer aid to refugees during the wars. He was recognized for his services with honorary doctorates and professorships throughout Europe and the U.S., including the University of Geneva and Yale University.