Wolfe, Catherine L. (1828–1887)

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Wolfe, Catherine L. (1828–1887)

American philanthropist . Born Catharine Lorillard Wolfe in New York City on May 8, 1828; died at her home in New York City on April 4, 1887; second and only surviving child of John David Wolfe (a hardware mogul) and Dorothea Ann (Lorillard) Wolfe (heir to the Lorillard family, manufacturers of tobacco); first cousin of Catherine Wolfe Bruce (patron of astronomy); educated at home by private tutors and abroad; never married; no children.

Following the death of her parents, Catherine Lorillard Wolfe was left with a large fortune, and devoted her life to works of charity. Besides giving generous sums to Grace Church, Union College, the American School at Athens, and St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, she founded a newsboys' lodging and a home for incurables. Wolfe also supplied the funds for Dr. Ward's archaeological expedition to Asia Minor, and gave a valuable collection of paintings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with an endowment of $200,000, for its preservation and enlargement.