Martha Rivers Ingram
Encyclopedia
Martha Robinson Rivers Ingram (born 20 August 1935) is the chairman of Ingram Industries
, chairman of the Vanderbilt University
Board of Trust, and a noted philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was married to the late E. Bronson Ingram
, who inherited his father's petroleum
and barge
empire in 1963. In 1995, Martha Ingram succeeded her late husband as chairman and chief executive officer of Ingram Industries, one of America's largest privately held companies. At the time, she was better known for her commitment to the arts in Nashville
, Tennessee
, where she and Bronson made their home. She has since become a respected executive in her own right.
, the daughter of John Minott and Martha Elizabeth Robinson Rivers. She graduated from Ashley Hall in Charleston and then enrolled at Vassar College
, where she received a bachelor of arts
in history
in 1957 and where she developed what would become a lifelong interest in the performing arts
.
Upon graduation, Ingram found employment at WCSC-AM/FM and WCSC-TV
, a radio and television station, respectively, owned by her father. After a year and a half at the stations, her broadcasting career ended when she renewed her friendship with Bronson, whom she had dated during her time at Vassar. The two eventually married on October 4, 1958, at St. Philip's Church in Charleston.
, Louisiana
, before eventually moving to Nashville. While Bronson was engaged with his family's business interests in the city, Martha raised the couple's four children and devoted herself to the local arts scene. After her appointment to the advisory board of the Kennedy Center in 1972, Martha Ingram began to work to develop a local performing arts facility. While the idea initially met considerable resistance, her eight-year fight gave rise to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center
(TPAC), a three-theatre facility located in downtown Nashville.
Much later, Ingram would help develop the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
, which opened in 2005 and houses the Nashville Symphony. The center is named for the late Kenneth Schermerhorn
, with whom Ingram was romantically linked after her husband's death.
Ingram's contributions to the arts, as well as her work in the volunteer community, in Nashville were recognized by The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
when they awarded her with the Mary Harriman
Community Leadership Award in 1999.
as a public company, and now operate the remainder of the corporation as a privately-owned business. What would become Ingram Entertainment, which distributes home videos and video games, was sold to David Ingram, Martha's youngest son. Ingram Industries now comprises Ingram Book Group
, a leading book distributor; Ingram Marine Group
; and Ingram Insurance Group. One son, Orrin, is president and CEO; another, John, is vice chairman. Martha's daughter, Robin Ingram Patton, is a member of the Ingram board of directors.
In 2006 she was honored by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee as the 2006 recipient of the 13th Annual Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts.
In October 2010, Ingram was honored by the Americans for the Arts
, an organization for advancing the arts in America, for her exemplary national leadership and work which demonstrated extraordinary artistic achievement. She received the Eli & Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts.
Martha Ingram serves as a board member of the Spoleto Festival USA
, Ingram Micro
, Regions Financial Corporation, and Weyerhaeuser
. Her other philanthropic commitments include the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Tennessee Performing Arts Center
, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Ballet. She is also the chairman for the Nashville Symphony Association, and the vice-chairman for the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
. She is responsible for having helped develop the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
which opened in 2005.
Ingram is Chairman of the Board of Trust of Vanderbilt University
in Nashville. The Vanderbilt Blair School of Music
has been the recipient of $300 million of Ingram company stock.
Ingram Industries
Ingram Industries is a company based in Nashville founded by the late Erskine Bronson Ingram and still owned and run by the Ingram family. Ingram Barge Company was founded by his father, Orrin Henry Ingram...
, chairman of the Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
Board of Trust, and a noted philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was married to the late E. Bronson Ingram
Erskine Bronson Ingram
E. Bronson Ingram was a United States businessman and billionaire, and the long-time head of Ingram Industries.-Biography:Ingram was born in St...
, who inherited his father's petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
empire in 1963. In 1995, Martha Ingram succeeded her late husband as chairman and chief executive officer of Ingram Industries, one of America's largest privately held companies. At the time, she was better known for her commitment to the arts in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, where she and Bronson made their home. She has since become a respected executive in her own right.
Early life
Martha Robinson Rivers was born in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, the daughter of John Minott and Martha Elizabeth Robinson Rivers. She graduated from Ashley Hall in Charleston and then enrolled at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, where she received a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
in 1957 and where she developed what would become a lifelong interest in the performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
.
Upon graduation, Ingram found employment at WCSC-AM/FM and WCSC-TV
WCSC-TV
WCSC-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for South Carolina's Lowcountry area licensed to Charleston. Its broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 47 from a transmitter in Awendaw. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 5 as well as Comcast and Knology...
, a radio and television station, respectively, owned by her father. After a year and a half at the stations, her broadcasting career ended when she renewed her friendship with Bronson, whom she had dated during her time at Vassar. The two eventually married on October 4, 1958, at St. Philip's Church in Charleston.
Nashville and the arts
The Ingrams first settled in New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, before eventually moving to Nashville. While Bronson was engaged with his family's business interests in the city, Martha raised the couple's four children and devoted herself to the local arts scene. After her appointment to the advisory board of the Kennedy Center in 1972, Martha Ingram began to work to develop a local performing arts facility. While the idea initially met considerable resistance, her eight-year fight gave rise to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, or TPAC, is located in the James K. Polk Cultural Center at 505 Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, occupying an entire city block between 5th and 6th Avenues North and Deaderick and Union Streets. Also housing the Tennessee State Museum, the...
(TPAC), a three-theatre facility located in downtown Nashville.
Much later, Ingram would help develop the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a symphony center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Ground was broken for construction on December 3, 2003. The center formally opened on September 9, 2006, with a gala concert conducted by Leonard Slatkin and broadcast by PBS affiliates throughout the state...
, which opened in 2005 and houses the Nashville Symphony. The center is named for the late Kenneth Schermerhorn
Kenneth Schermerhorn
Kenneth Dewitt Schermerhorn was an American composer and orchestra conductor, most notably for the Nashville Symphony.-Biography:Schermerhorn was born in Schenectady, New York, where he studied clarinet, violin, and trumpet in school. At age 14, he forged a baptismal certificate to appear older so...
, with whom Ingram was romantically linked after her husband's death.
Ingram's contributions to the arts, as well as her work in the volunteer community, in Nashville were recognized by The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
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...
when they awarded her with the Mary Harriman
Mary Harriman Rumsey
Mary Harriman Rumsey was the founder of The Junior League for the Promotion of Settlement Movements, later known as the Junior League of the City of New York of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. Mary was the daughter of railroad magnate, E.H. Harriman and sister to W...
Community Leadership Award in 1999.
Ingram Industries and later life
Soon after Martha's work with TPAC, Bronson invited her to join him at Ingram Industries. She accepted the invitation, becoming Director of Public Affairs at the company in 1979. After her husband's death in 1995, she became chairman of the board. The family spun off Ingram MicroIngram Micro
Ingram Micro, Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and the world’s largest information technology distributor, providing sales, marketing and logistics services for the IT industry in all corners of the globe.-Overview:...
as a public company, and now operate the remainder of the corporation as a privately-owned business. What would become Ingram Entertainment, which distributes home videos and video games, was sold to David Ingram, Martha's youngest son. Ingram Industries now comprises Ingram Book Group
Ingram Book Group
Ingram Content Group is a United States-based service provider to the book publishing industry based in La Vergne, Tennessee. A subsidiary of Ingram Industries, Ingram Content Group was formed in 2009 as Ingram Lightning Group merged with Ingram Digital Group...
, a leading book distributor; Ingram Marine Group
Ingram Barge Company
The Ingram Barge Company is a barge company based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.According to the company website, Ingram operates nearly 4,000 barges with a fleet of over 80 linehaul vessels and over 30 tug boats...
; and Ingram Insurance Group. One son, Orrin, is president and CEO; another, John, is vice chairman. Martha's daughter, Robin Ingram Patton, is a member of the Ingram board of directors.
Philanthropy
Martha Ingram has ranked 524th on the Forbes list of richest people and is prominent in Nashville society for her philanthropy. Her philanthropic focus has been education and the arts, including theatre, opera, and the symphony in Tennessee. She was honored by Business Week as the 50th most generous philanthropist for her donations between the years 2000 and 2004.In 2006 she was honored by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee as the 2006 recipient of the 13th Annual Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts.
In October 2010, Ingram was honored by the Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts is a nonprofit organization whose primary focus is advancing the arts in the United States. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service...
, an organization for advancing the arts in America, for her exemplary national leadership and work which demonstrated extraordinary artistic achievement. She received the Eli & Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts.
Martha Ingram serves as a board member of the Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the world's major performing arts festivals. It was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who sought to establish a counterpart to the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy...
, Ingram Micro
Ingram Micro
Ingram Micro, Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and the world’s largest information technology distributor, providing sales, marketing and logistics services for the IT industry in all corners of the globe.-Overview:...
, Regions Financial Corporation, and Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
. Her other philanthropic commitments include the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, or TPAC, is located in the James K. Polk Cultural Center at 505 Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, occupying an entire city block between 5th and 6th Avenues North and Deaderick and Union Streets. Also housing the Tennessee State Museum, the...
, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Ballet. She is also the chairman for the Nashville Symphony Association, and the vice-chairman for the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a symphony center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Ground was broken for construction on December 3, 2003. The center formally opened on September 9, 2006, with a gala concert conducted by Leonard Slatkin and broadcast by PBS affiliates throughout the state...
. She is responsible for having helped develop the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a symphony center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Ground was broken for construction on December 3, 2003. The center formally opened on September 9, 2006, with a gala concert conducted by Leonard Slatkin and broadcast by PBS affiliates throughout the state...
which opened in 2005.
Ingram is Chairman of the Board of Trust of Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Nashville. The Vanderbilt Blair School of Music
Blair School of Music
The Blair School of Music provides undergraduate conservatory-style education in music performance, theory, and history at Vanderbilt University, a major research university located in Nashville, Tennessee...
has been the recipient of $300 million of Ingram company stock.