Dana, Susan M. Lawrence, 1862-1946

Springfield, Ill. art patron, philanthropist and socialite who occasionally used her own artistic ability to create.

Susan Lawrence Dana, a Springfield, Illinois, art patron, philan-thropist, and socialite, was the daughter of Rheuna (1837-1901) and Mary A. Maxcy (1842-1905) Lawrence. Her father was a self-made businessman with interests in building, land, railroads, mining, and banking.

He was an organizer of Barclay Coal Company and became president (1894-1901) of State National Bank. He was elected to a term (1891-1892) as Springfield's mayor and served (1893-1901) on the school board. Susan Lawrence attended Bettie Stuart Institute and was active in local social and philanthropic organizations, including the Springfield Woman's Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, King's Daughters' Home for Aged Women, and Lincoln Colored Home. She married Edwin Dana (died 1900), singer Jorgen Constantin Dahl (1886-1913; changed his name to Lawrence Joergen-Dahl), and Charles A. Gehrmann. She employed Frank Lloyd Wright to design her home at Fourth Street and Lawrence Avenue and a library for Lawrence School (named for her father). Her legal and business affairs were handled by Springfield attorney Earl R. Bice after 1942.