Dorothy Payne Whitney
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Payne Whitney was an American
-born social activist and philanthropist and a member of the prominent Whitney family
.
.
Her first marriage in 1911 was to Willard Dickerman Straight (1880–1918) an orphan from Oswego, New York
who went to Cornell University
and by the age of 30 was a powerful man amongst the international community trading in Peking, China
. He died at the age of thirty-eight of influenza
during the great epidemic
while serving with the United States Army
in France
during World War I
. Straight's will requested his wife to continue his philanthropic
work in support of Cornell and in 1925 she built Willard Straight Hall
, a student union
building dedicated to her late husband's memory.
One of the wealthiest women in America in the early 20th century, Dorothy Whitney Straight was a philanthropist
, social activist, supporting women's trade unions, educational and charitable organisations such as the Junior League
of New York, becoming the first president of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. in 1921. She was also a founder with her husband of the weekly magazine The New Republic
and the New School for Social Research.
Records of Dorothy Payne Whitney's in New York City
, reveal the extent of her philanthropic work. She was a benefactor of the arts, feminist, and pacifist causes as well as social and labour reform. She lent financial support to progressive alternative education plus scholarly research. In 1937, she created in her father's name the William C. Whitney Foundation.
It was through the Cornell connection that in 1920 she met Leonard Knight Elmhirst, from a Yorkshire
landowning family, who was then studying Agriculture at Cornell University
, and was seeking support for Cornell's Cosmopolitan Club which provided amenities for foreign students. They married in April 1925, and embarked on ambitious plans to recreate rural community life at Dartington Hall
in Devon
. At Dartington she led the artistic developments, although she and Leonard also continued their world wide interests. On April 26, 1935 she renounced her United States
citizenship. She died on December 15, 1968.
With Leonard K. Elmhirst:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born social activist and philanthropist and a member of the prominent Whitney family
Whitney family
The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy, founded by John Whitney who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635.-Rise to prominence:...
.
Biography
Born in Washington, DC, at age 17 she came into a major inheritance following the death of her extremely wealthy father, businessman and statesman, William C. WhitneyWilliam C. Whitney
William Collins Whitney was an American political leader and financier and founder of the prominent Whitney family. He served as Secretary of the Navy in the first Cleveland administration from 1885 through 1889. A conservative reformer, he was considered a Bourbon Democrat.-Early life:William...
.
Her first marriage in 1911 was to Willard Dickerman Straight (1880–1918) an orphan from Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
who went to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and by the age of 30 was a powerful man amongst the international community trading in Peking, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He died at the age of thirty-eight of influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
during the great epidemic
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
while serving with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Straight's will requested his wife to continue his philanthropic
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
work in support of Cornell and in 1925 she built Willard Straight Hall
Willard Straight Hall
Willard Straight Hall is the student union building on the central campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It is located on Campus Road, adjacent to the Ho Plaza and the Gannett Health Center.-History:...
, a student union
Student union
Student union may refer to:* Students' union, or student government in the U.S., a student organization at many colleges and universities dedicated to student governance...
building dedicated to her late husband's memory.
One of the wealthiest women in America in the early 20th century, Dorothy Whitney Straight was a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, social activist, supporting women's trade unions, educational and charitable organisations such as the Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
of New York, becoming the first president of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. in 1921. She was also a founder with her husband of the weekly magazine The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
and the New School for Social Research.
Records of Dorothy Payne Whitney's in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, reveal the extent of her philanthropic work. She was a benefactor of the arts, feminist, and pacifist causes as well as social and labour reform. She lent financial support to progressive alternative education plus scholarly research. In 1937, she created in her father's name the William C. Whitney Foundation.
It was through the Cornell connection that in 1920 she met Leonard Knight Elmhirst, from a Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
landowning family, who was then studying Agriculture at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and was seeking support for Cornell's Cosmopolitan Club which provided amenities for foreign students. They married in April 1925, and embarked on ambitious plans to recreate rural community life at Dartington Hall
Dartington Hall
The Dartington Hall Trust, near Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom is a charity specialising in the arts, social justice and sustainability.The Trust currently runs 16 charitable programmes, including The Dartington International Summer School and Schumacher Environmental College...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. At Dartington she led the artistic developments, although she and Leonard also continued their world wide interests. On April 26, 1935 she renounced her United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizenship. She died on December 15, 1968.
Children
With Willard Dickerman Straight:- Whitney Willard Straight (1912–1979)
- Beatrice Whitney StraightBeatrice StraightBeatrice Whitney Straight was an American theatre, film, and television actress. Hers remains the shortest acting performance in a film to win an Oscar. In her winning role in the 1976 film Network, she was on screen for five minutes and forty seconds, the shortest time ever for the winner of the...
(1914–2001) - Michael Whitney StraightMichael Whitney StraightMichael Whitney Straight, was an American magazine publisher, novelist, patron of the arts, a member of the prominent Whitney family, and a confessed spy for the KGB.-Biography:...
(1916–2004)
With Leonard K. Elmhirst:
- Ruth Elmhirst
- William Elmhirst
Further reading
- Anonymous, Dartington, Webber & Bower, 1982
- Young, Michael, The Elmhirsts Of Dartington, The Creation Of A Utopian Community, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982
- The Straight and Its Origin by Leonard K. Elmhirst; published by Willard Straight Hall, 1975.