Helen Miller Shepard
Encyclopedia
Helen Miller Gould Shepard (June 20, 1868 – December 21, 1938) was an American
philanthropist
born in Manhattan
in New York City
.
and Helen Day Miller (1838-1889). Her sister Anna Gould
was another prominent heiress.
, and she married Finley Johnson Shepard (1867-1942) on January 22, 1913.
They adopted three children, Finley Jay, named for Finley Johnson Shepard and Jay Gould, and Olivia, named for Helen's dear friend Mrs. Russell Sage, and Helen Anna, named for Helen and her sister, Anna and had one foster child, Louis Seton. The first of the adopted children, Finley Jay Shepard, was a three-year-old abandoned child who was found on the steps of Manhattan's St Patrick's Cathedral
in 1914. They later adopted two daughters, Margaret and Dorothy, of her brother Frank Gould.
.
, she donated US$100,000 to the United States government in support of the war. She gave an additional US$50,000 toward military hospital supplies and was active in the Women's National War Relief Association
, working in a hospital for wounded soldiers. She donated the library building at New York University
and began the Hall of Fame
. She gave US$10,000 for the engineering school. She gave additional contributions to Rutgers College. Both the YMCA
and the YWCA
benefited from her contributions, as well as other organizations. She was a member of the board of the Russell Sage Foundation
and of the national board of the YWCA.
including Kirkside Lake. The facility originally produced ice for the Roxbury in the winter months and the lake was used for recreation for the community in the summer months. Construction of the 9 hole golf course began around 1916 and upon completion served her estate.
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...
born in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
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...
.
Birth
Born as Helen Miller Gould she was the first born daughter of Jay GouldJay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
and Helen Day Miller (1838-1889). Her sister Anna Gould
Anna Gould
Anna Gould was an American heiress and socialite, the daughter of financier Jay Gould.-First marriage:She married Paul Ernest Boniface , the Comte de Castellane, on March 14, 1895 in Manhattan, New York...
was another prominent heiress.
Marriage
She attended New York University School of LawNew York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
, and she married Finley Johnson Shepard (1867-1942) on January 22, 1913.
They adopted three children, Finley Jay, named for Finley Johnson Shepard and Jay Gould, and Olivia, named for Helen's dear friend Mrs. Russell Sage, and Helen Anna, named for Helen and her sister, Anna and had one foster child, Louis Seton. The first of the adopted children, Finley Jay Shepard, was a three-year-old abandoned child who was found on the steps of Manhattan's St Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in 1914. They later adopted two daughters, Margaret and Dorothy, of her brother Frank Gould.
American Bible Society
In 1918 she and Emma Baker Kennedy (c1833-1930) became the first female vice presidents of the American Bible SocietyAmerican Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
.
Philanthropy
At the commencement of the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, she donated US$100,000 to the United States government in support of the war. She gave an additional US$50,000 toward military hospital supplies and was active in the Women's National War Relief Association
Women's National War Relief Association
The Women's National War Relief Association was an American relief organization founded during the Spanish-American War to give comfort to the officers, soldiers and sailors in the United States Military...
, working in a hospital for wounded soldiers. She donated the library building at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and began the Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame for Great Americans
The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is the original hall of fame in the United States. "Fame" here means "renown"...
. She gave US$10,000 for the engineering school. She gave additional contributions to Rutgers College. Both the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and the YWCA
Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association or YWCA or YWCA Building or Old YWCA Building or variations may refer to:*World YWCA, the organization formerly known as Young Women's Christian Associationor it may refer to:...
benefited from her contributions, as well as other organizations. She was a member of the board of the Russell Sage Foundation
Russell Sage Foundation
The Russell Sage Foundation is the principal American foundation devoted exclusively to research in the social sciences. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in New York City, the foundation is a research center, a funding source for studies by scholars at other institutions, and a key member of the...
and of the national board of the YWCA.
Golf Course
She purchased Shepard Hills in Roxbury, New YorkRoxbury, New York
Roxbury is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 2,509 at the 2000 census.The Town of Roxbury is at the eastern end of the county.- History :...
including Kirkside Lake. The facility originally produced ice for the Roxbury in the winter months and the lake was used for recreation for the community in the summer months. Construction of the 9 hole golf course began around 1916 and upon completion served her estate.