Harriman, Mary (1851–1932)
Harriman, Mary (1851–1932)
American philanthropist. Name variations: Mary Averell Harriman. Born Mary Williamson Averell, July 22,1851, in New York, NY; died Nov 7, 1932, in NY; dau. of William John Averell (businessman) and Mary Laurence (Williamson) Averell; m. Edward Henry Harriman, Sept 10, 1879 (died 1909); children:6, including Cornelia Harriman, Mary Harriman Rumsey (1881–1934) and William Averell Harriman (b. 1891, governor of NY and ambassador to Soviet Union).
Became sole beneficiary of husband's estate which was estimated at $70 million (1909); established Eugenics Records Office under biologist Charles B. Davenport (1910), later transferred to Carnegie Institution; granted 10,000 acres and endowment of $1 million to NY as Harriman State Park (1910); established and financed Training School for Public Service (1911), pioneering venture in public administration; commissioned survey Modern Philanthropy: A Study of Efficient Appealing and Giving (1912); served on Women's Advisory Committee of National War Council and American National Red Cross (WWI); after WWI, supported many young artists with interest and money, including Albert Herter and Malvina Hoffman; founded and served as president of American Orchestral Society (1920); received gold medal for "great service to the music-loving people of New York" from National Institute of Social Sciences (1925).