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Mary French Rockefeller

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Mary French Rockefeller
Laurance and Mary French Rockefeller in 1965
Born
Mary Billings French

May 1, 1910
DiedApril 17, 1997(1997-04-17) (aged 86)
New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center
Burial placeRockefeller Family Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow, New York
NationalityAmerican
Alma materVassar College (1931)
OccupationPhilanthropist
Known for
Board member ofYWCA National Board (1955–1973)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1934)​
Children
Parents
Relatives

Mary Billings French Rockefeller (May 1, 1910 – April 17, 1997) was an American heiress, socialite, philanthropist, and a member of the extensive Rockefeller family. She was married to Laurance Rockefeller, son of John Davison Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. She was the mother of Laura Rockefeller Chasin, Marion Rockefeller Weber, Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky, and Laurance Spelman Rockefeller Jr.

Early life

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Mary Billings French was born to John French (b. December 4, 1863) and Mary Montagu Billings French (1869–1951), daughter of financier Frederick Billings. Her mother was an heiress while her father was a lawyer, and the couple married in 1907. John was the son of Warren Converse French and Sarah Ann Steele.[1][2] Mary's mother (the elder Mary) was a society figure and maintained an apartment with her sister on Madison Avenue in New York City before she married.[3]

Mary (the younger) had two siblings, an older brother John (1909–1984) and a younger sister Elizabeth, who went by "Liz" (1912–1976).[4] John had been a roommate of Nelson Rockefeller while both attended Dartmouth College. The French children were born into "wealth and privilege", though Mary tried to live an unostentatious lifestyle as an adult.[5] Through her mother, the younger Mary was a tenth generation descendant of Major Simon Willard, a Massachusetts historical figure.[6]

Personal life

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Mary met Laurance S. Rockefeller in 1927. On August 15, 1934, Mary married Laurance at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Vermont, located on Elm Street. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Herbert Hines and was attended by approximately 300 guests, followed by a reception at "The Hills", Mary's estate at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller compound.[5][7][8] Together Mary and Laurance had:

On April 17, 1997, she fell in her apartment in Manhattan and died later the same day at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. Mary was 86 years old at the time of her death, and according to a Rockefeller family spokesman, she was in "failing health" for several years before her death.[9]

Philanthropy

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Main article: Philanthropy of Mary and Laurance Rockefeller

Mary worked closely with her husband on a number of philanthropic projects, mostly focused on conservationism and donation of their money, estates and time.

At the age of 41, Mary inherited what is now known as the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park from her parents when her mother died in 1951, who had inherited it from her father Frederick. The estate included a mansion, dairy farm, and extensive grounds. In 1992, Mary and Laurance donated the property to the state and it was made into a National Historic Park. Lady Bird Johnson dedicated the house in a special ceremony.[10]

Mary was an ardent supporter of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), carrying on the tradition from her mother who was also involved with the organization. In 1951 she joined the YWCA National Board, then was vice-chairman and then chairman of the YWCA's international division from 1955 to 1973. From 1958 to 1964, she was chairman of the YWCA's World Service Council, followed by being elected to the YWCA Board of Trustees in 1988. Together with her husband, Mary flew over 50,000 miles for YWCA activities around the world.[11]

The Mary French Rockefeller Educational Center is located at Camp Greenkill, Huguenot, New York.

References

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  1. ^ Winks, Robin W. (1998). Frederick Billings: A Life. University of California Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-52021497-2.
  2. ^ Cutter, William Richard (1913). New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. Vol. 2. Lewis historical publishing. p. 643.
  3. ^ Social Register, New York. Social Register Association. 1894. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Cultural Landscape Report For the Mansion Grounds" (PDF). National Park Service – U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Laurance S. Rockefeller". American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  6. ^ Register of the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York. National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York. 1913. pp. 256–8.
  7. ^ "Laurance S. Rockefeller, 1910-2004". Rockefeller Family & Associates. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Miss Mary French Marries Rockefeller Kin". Pottstown Mercury. 16 Aug 1934. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  9. ^ Nemy, Enid (19 Apr 1997). "Mary Rockefeller, Women's Advocate, Dies at 86". New York Times. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  10. ^ Duffy, John J. (2003). The Vermont Encyclopedia. UPNE. p. 251. ISBN 9781584650867.
  11. ^ "Women's Rights Advocate Mary Rockefeller, 86". Chicago Tribune. 23 Apr 1997. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
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