Helen Clay Frick
Encyclopedia
Helen Clay Frick was an American
philanthropist
.
She was born in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
the third child of the coke
and steel
magnate Henry Clay Frick
(1849–1919) and Adelaide Howard Childs (1859–1931). She grew up at the family's Pittsburgh estate, Clayton
, although the family later moved to New York City
in 1905. She attended the Spence School
there.
Her early life was deeply shaped by her father's wealth and reputation as a ruthless industrialist and union strikebreaker, and especially by the attempt on his life by Alexander Berkman
. Her mother suffered from debilitating depression. Her father famously played favorites with his two surviving children, Childs Frick
(1883–1965) and Helen. After the reading of their father's will, which favored Helen, the two siblings were estranged the rest of their lives.
Nonetheless, young Helen developed as a strong, independent and famously feisty young woman. She chose never to marry and, upon her father's death in 1919 when she was 31, she inherited $38 million, becoming the richest single woman in the U.S. She devoted her adult life to defending her father's public image from attack and continuing his tradition of philanthropy.
Helen Frick shared her father’s passion for the visual arts; she was a lifelong collector. She established the University of Pittsburgh
Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Department in 1928, two art history libraries, and purchased many major art works for her private collection—the Frick Collection
in New York—as well as for the University of Pittsburgh teaching collection and the Frick Art Museum
in Pittsburgh. In 1965 she created the Frick Fine Arts Building to house the fine arts at Pitt, but a dispute eventually severed the relationship.
Yet Frick's philanthropy went beyond the arts. Her contributions included a vacation home for young female textile workers; two wildlife preserves; a public wilderness park, Frick Park
; Clayton, a Victorian-era house museum; and West Overton
, a pre-American Civil War
historic Mennonite
village. Interestingly, in the 1920s she donated 14 acres (56,656 m²) of land called "Frick Acres" in the Oakland
district to the University of Pittsburgh so that Chancellor John Gabbert Bowman
could build there his landmark skyscraper, the Cathedral of Learning
.
She died at her Clayton home in Pittsburgh at age 96 in 1984. She is interred alongside her parents in the Frick family plot at Homewood Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
.
She was born in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
the third child of the coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
magnate Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, and played a major role in the formation of the giant U.S. Steel steel manufacturing concern...
(1849–1919) and Adelaide Howard Childs (1859–1931). She grew up at the family's Pittsburgh estate, Clayton
Frick Art & Historical Center
The Frick Art & Historical Center is a cluster of museums and historical buildings located at 7227 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States and collectively known as "Clayton"...
, although the family later moved to 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...
in 1905. She attended the Spence School
Spence School
The Spence School is an American all-girls independent school in New York City, founded in 1892 by Clara B. Spence.-Overview:Spence has about 688 students, with K-4 representing the Lower School, 5-8 representing the Middle School, and 9-12 representing the Upper School. Lower school average class...
there.
Her early life was deeply shaped by her father's wealth and reputation as a ruthless industrialist and union strikebreaker, and especially by the attempt on his life by Alexander Berkman
Alexander Berkman
Alexander Berkman was an anarchist known for his political activism and writing. He was a leading member of the anarchist movement in the early 20th century....
. Her mother suffered from debilitating depression. Her father famously played favorites with his two surviving children, Childs Frick
Childs Frick
Childs Frick was an American vertebrate paleontologist.He was a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History and a major benefactor of its Department of Paleontology, which in 1916 began a long partnership with him. He established its Frick Laboratory...
(1883–1965) and Helen. After the reading of their father's will, which favored Helen, the two siblings were estranged the rest of their lives.
Nonetheless, young Helen developed as a strong, independent and famously feisty young woman. She chose never to marry and, upon her father's death in 1919 when she was 31, she inherited $38 million, becoming the richest single woman in the U.S. She devoted her adult life to defending her father's public image from attack and continuing his tradition of philanthropy.
Helen Frick shared her father’s passion for the visual arts; she was a lifelong collector. She established the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Department in 1928, two art history libraries, and purchased many major art works for her private collection—the Frick Collection
Frick Collection
The Frick Collection is an art museum located in Manhattan, New York City, United States.- History :It is housed in the former Henry Clay Frick House, which was designed by Thomas Hastings and constructed in 1913-1914. John Russell Pope altered and enlarged the building in the early 1930s to adapt...
in New York—as well as for the University of Pittsburgh teaching collection and the Frick Art Museum
Frick Art & Historical Center
The Frick Art & Historical Center is a cluster of museums and historical buildings located at 7227 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States and collectively known as "Clayton"...
in Pittsburgh. In 1965 she created the Frick Fine Arts Building to house the fine arts at Pitt, but a dispute eventually severed the relationship.
Yet Frick's philanthropy went beyond the arts. Her contributions included a vacation home for young female textile workers; two wildlife preserves; a public wilderness park, Frick Park
Frick Park
Frick Park is the largest municipal park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, covering .The park began when Henry Clay Frick, upon his death in 1919, bequeathed south of Clayton, his Point Breeze mansion . He also arranged for a $2 million trust fund for long-term maintenance for the park, which opened on...
; Clayton, a Victorian-era house museum; and West Overton
West Overton, Pennsylvania
West Overton is a ghost town located approximately southeast of Pittsburgh, in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is on PA 819 between the towns of Mount Pleasant and Scottdale...
, a pre-American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
historic Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
village. Interestingly, in the 1920s she donated 14 acres (56,656 m²) of land called "Frick Acres" in the Oakland
Oakland (Pittsburgh)
Oakland is the academic, cultural, and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania's third largest "Downtown". Only Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh can claim more economic and social activity than Oakland...
district to the University of Pittsburgh so that Chancellor John Gabbert Bowman
John Gabbert Bowman
John Gabbert Bowman was the tenth Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh and the ninth President of the University of Iowa....
could build there his landmark skyscraper, the Cathedral of Learning
Cathedral of Learning
The Cathedral of Learning, a Pittsburgh landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh's main campus in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
.
She died at her Clayton home in Pittsburgh at age 96 in 1984. She is interred alongside her parents in the Frick family plot at Homewood Cemetery
Homewood Cemetery
Homewood Cemetery is a historic, nonsectarian burial ground in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Squirrel Hill and is bordered by both Frick Park and the neighborhood of Point Breeze....
.