Elmhirst, Dorothy Payne Whitney Straight

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1887
Death 1968
Death 1968
Birth 1887-01-23
Death 1968-12-14
Gender:
Female
Americans

Biographical notes:

Philanthropist, educator, publisher, patron of the arts and social activist.

Dorothy Payne Whitney, daughter of William C. Whitney, married Willard Dickerman Straight in 1911. Straight died in 1919, and she married Leonard Knight Elmhirst in 1925.

From the guide to the Dorothy Whitney Straight Elmhirst papers, 1887-1978, 1887-1926 (bulk), (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)

Philanthropist, educator, publisher, patron of the arts and social activist.

Dorothy Payne Whitney, daughter of William C. Whitney, a financier and Secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland, married Willard Dickerman Straight in 19ll. Straight died in 1918, and she married Leonard Knight Elmhirst in 1925. Dorothy and Elmhirst purchased Dartington Hall, Devon, England, reconstructed the 14th century manor and founded a school on the property. Dartington Hall became a center for the arts and a leading coeducational progressive school. The New School for Social Research in New York was begun with the backing of the Whitney Estate in 1919. Dorothy was involved with the New York State Food Commission, the Women's Liberty Loan Committee, the Social Unit Plan, the Junior League, the War Camp Service Committee, the Women's Emergency Committee of the European Relief Council, the New School for Social Research, the Tuberculosis Preventorium for Children, the Pueblos Defense Committee, and the Mayor's Committee of Women on National Defense. She supported individual students at Bordentown Military Academy and Hobart College, and helped to found THE NEW REPUBLIC.

From the guide to the Dorothy Whitney Straight Elmhirst papers from Dartington Hall, 1890-1976, 1920-1958 (bulk), (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)

Philanthropist, educator, publisher, patron of the arts and social activist.

Dorothy Payne Whitney, daughter of William C. Whitney, a financier and secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland, married Willard Dickerman Straight in 1911. Straight died in 1919, and she married Leonard Knight Elmhirst in 1925. Dorothy and Elmhirst purchased Dartington Hall, Devon, England, reconstructed the 14th century manor and founded a school on the property. Dartington Hall became a center for the arts and a leading coeducational progressive school. The New School for Social Research in New York was begun with the backing of the Whitney Estate in 1919. Dorothy was involved with the New York State Food Commission, the Women's Liberty Loan Committee, the Social Unit Plan, the Junior League, the War Camp Service Committee, the Women's Emergency Committee of the European Relief Council, the New School for Social Research, the Tuberculosis Preventorium for Children, the Pueblos Defense Committee, and the Mayor's Committee of Women on National Defense. She supported individual students at the Bordentown Military Academy and Hobart College, and helped to found THE NEW REPUBLIC.

From the description of Dorothy Whitney Straight Elmhirst papers, 1887-1978, 1887-1926 (bulk). (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63944154

Philanthropist, educator, publisher, patron of the arts and social activist.

Dorothy Payne Whitney, daughter of William C. Whitney, a financier and Secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland, married Willard Dickerman Straight in 19ll. Straight died in 1918, and she married Leonard Knight Elmhirst in 1925. Dorothy and Elmhirst purchased Dartington Hall, Devon, England, reconstructed the 14th century manor and founded a school on the property. Dartington Hall became a center for the arts and a leading coeducational progressive school. The New School for Social Research in New York was begun with the backing of the Whitney Estate in 1919. Dorothy was involved with the New York State Food Commission, the Women's Liberty Loan Committee, the Social Unit Plan, the Junior League, the War Camp Service Committee, the Women's Emergency Committee of the European Relief Council, the New School for Social Research, the Tuberculosis Preventorium for Children, the Pueblos Defense Committee, and the Mayor's Committee of Women on National Defense. She supported individual students at Bordentown Military Academy and Hobart College, and helped to found THE NEW REPUBLIC.

From the description of Dorothy Whitney Straight Elmhirst papers from Dartington Hall, 1890-1976, 1920-1958 (bulk). (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64071632

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Information

Subjects:

  • Education
  • Social reformers
  • World War, 1914-1918
  • Women
  • Women social reformers

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • Asia. (as recorded)
  • ENG, GB
  • DC, US