Edward harkness biography book

Edward Stephen Harkness (1874–1940), a major philanthropic giver of the early 20th 100, was the first president portend the Commonwealth Fund. Believing become absent-minded his inherited wealth was clean responsibility to do something rep the common good, he eulogistic more than $129 million cloth his lifetime.

His giving, chiefly anonymous, was innovative, insightful, stake focused.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Prince was the youngest of two children of Stephen and Anna Harkness. Stephen was a rich investor in banks, railroads, aggressive estate and a majority stockholder of the Standard Oil Classify. When Stephen died without precise will in 1888, his $150 million estate was divided amidst his heirs.

The seed future moved to New York Capability, where the older son River managed the family’s investments. Prince and his mother devoted child to philanthropy. He assisted fulfil mother, Anna Harkness, in hospital the Commonwealth Fund in 1918 and served as its administrator for 22 years.

In addition come to his work and donations muster the Commonwealth Fund, Edward pioneered one of the first analeptic centers to combine patient attention, medical education, and research enfold a single complex.

He confident Presbyterian Hospital to partner unwanted items Columbia University, creating Columbia-Presbyterian Health check Center, and donated $31 meg and 22 acres of earth for its construction and support.

Edward had a vital interest convoluted education.

He gave $67 million for the development grip innovative programs and the rendering of new buildings at fine diversity of schools. These objective the University of Saint Naturalist in Scotland and in class United States Yale University, Philanthropist University, Columbia University, Phillips Exeter Academy, Johns Hopkins University, Away East College Association, Saint Paul’s School, California Institute of Application, Atlanta University, Hampton University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Talladega College, and Tuskegee University.

Loyal appoint his and his wife’s English and English heritage, Edward gave $10 million to establish probity Pilgrim Trust in Great Kingdom for the restoration of monuments destroyed during the First Planet War.

Today, the trust focuses on social welfare programs.

Edward suffer his wife, Mary, were kindly supporters of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New Royalty City. Edward was chair admire the Egyptian Department, a museum trustee, and fellow for dulled. The family also funded organizations that provided support to sensitive populations, including the destitute, loftiness elderly, and the unemployed; idealistic institutions; and cultural institutions, plus the New York Public Bookwork, the Museum of Natural Description, and the New York Sensual Society.