Bell, Mabel Hubbard (1857–1923)
Bell, Mabel Hubbard (1857–1923)
American philanthropist. Name variations: Mabel Hubbard; Mrs. Alexander Graham Bell. Born Mabel Gardiner Hubbard, Nov 25, 1857, in Cambridge, Massachusetts; died of pancreatic cancer, Jan 3, 1923, in Canada; dau. of Gertrude McCurdy Hubbard and Gardiner Greene Hubbard (lawyer, businessman, and member of Massachusetts State Board of Education, died 1897); m. Alexander Graham Bell (inventor), July 11, 1877 (died 1922); children: Elsie May Bell (b. May 8, 1878, who m. Gilbert Grosvenor), Maian (Daisy) Bell (b, Feb 15, 1880, who m. David Fairchild), Edward (1881–1881), Robert (1883–1883).
After a bout with scarlet fever at age 5, was left totally deaf; had an excellent education, then began studying under Alexander Bell who would eventually become a partner of her father's; engaged to Bell at 18, urged him to continue his work with telephone; with father, was instrumental in establishing schools for deaf children; moved to Washington DC, where she became a popular host; served as president of Montessori Educational Association and was a patron of aviation; had a summer home in Canada, where she founded the Canadian Home and School Association.
See also Ann J. Bishundayal, Mabel Hubbard Bell.