McClenahan, Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek, 1917-

Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek McClenahan (1917-2005) was a Richmond community leader, activist and philanthropist. She was described as the "conscience of Richmond" for her contributions to the Richmond community in the areas of racial harmony, housing, Richmond revitalization and historic preservation. She was also active in the arts, her church, and education. Born in Richmond on April 6, 1917, McClenahan was the daughter of Douglas Southall Freeman (1886-1953), noted historian and journalist, and Inez Goddin Freeman (1891-1974). She attended St. Catherine's School and Vassar College, receiving an A.B. in English-Creative Writing in 1937. After college she worked briefly as a secretary in the Department of Fine Arts of William and Mary College where she met Leslie Cheek, Jr. (1908-1992), then head of the department. They married in 1939. The Cheeks lived in Baltimore for three years while Mr. Cheek was Director of the Baltimore Museum of Fine Arts and in Washington, D.C. during World War II. While Cheek served in the Army, McClenahan volunteered as a nurse's aid. After his discharge from the Army in 1945, they lived in New York City where Cheek had been hired as an Associate Editor of Architectural Forum Magazine. The couple returned to Richmond when he became the first director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1948-1968). They had four children. A year following Cheek's death in 1992, McClenahan married Dr. John Lorimer McClenahan, a retired radiologist from Pennsylvania. Mrs. McClenahan was responsible for a number of Richmond civic initiatives, including bringing together the 35 groups that make up the Richmond Better Housing Coalition. In 1981 she founded the Richmond Urban Forum, an organization that brought together white and black community leaders. She was twice president of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood and has participated as a volunteer and board member of numerous Richmond civic organizations, including Richmond Renaissance Inc. and Richmond-On-The-James. She was also an active member of Richmond's historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She died at her Richmond home on January 16, 2005. Some of the organizations Mrs. McClenahan has been associated with include: The Arts Council of Richmond, 175th Anniversary of the Executive Mansion Commission, Girl Scouts, Historic Richmond Foundation, Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, National Committee, Jefferson Poplar Forest Fund, Leadership Metro Richmond, Maymont Foundation, Film Committee of the National Council for America's First Freedom: The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, Richmond AIDS Ministry, Richmond Better Housing Coalition, Richmond Hill, Richmond-On-The-James, Richmond Renaissance, Richmond Urban Forum, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Theatre Virginia, Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, Virginia Union University. Clubs include:Cosmopolitan Club, NYCHroswitha Club, NYC James River Garden Club, Richmond Richmond First Club, Richmond Kiwanis, Virginia Writer's Club, Woman's Club of Richmond. Awards McClenahan has received include:Richmond's Christmas Mother (1973), Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities' Mary Maso Williams Award (1977), Junior League of Richmond's Barbara Renson Andrews Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service (1982), St Catherine's School's Distinguished Alumni Award (1983), Virginia League of Planned Parenthood Distinguished Service Award (1984), National Conference of Christian and Jews' Brotherhood Citation (1985), Omicron Delta Kappa's Conspicuous Attainment Award (1986), YWCA of Richmond's Outstanding Woman of the Year (1986), Richmond First Club's Good Government Award (1987), Richmond Urban League's Charlotte T. Washington Community Services Award (1988), Style Magazine's Richmonder of the Year (1991), Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.) Fair Housing Award, Sallie Wilson Peake Memorial Award for Outstanding Support of Fair Housing, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Silver Hope Award (1994). Honorary degrees McClenahan received: Doctor of Humanities from University of Richmond, Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Paul's College, Doctor of Humane Letters from Washington and Lee University, Doctor of Humane Letters from Hollins College, Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Commonwealth University. Mrs. Cheek died in 2005.

From the description of Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek McClenahan papers, 1930-1999 (James Branch Cabell Library). WorldCat record id: 166393470

Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek McClenahan is a Richmond community leader, activist and philanthropist. She has been described as the "conscience of Richmond" for her contributions to the Richmond community in the areas of racial harmony, housing, Richmond revitalization and historic preservation. She has also been active in the arts, her church, and education.

Born in Richmond on April 6, 1917, Mary Tyler is the daughter of Douglas Southall Freeman (1886-1953), noted historian and journalist, and Inez Goddin Freeman (1891-1974). She attended St. Catherine's School and Vassar College, receiving an A.B. in English-Creative Writing in 1937.

After college she worked briefly as a secretary in the Department of Fine Arts of William and Mary College where she met Leslie Cheek, Jr. (1908-1992), then head of the department. They married in 1939. The Cheeks lived in Baltimore for three years while Mr. Cheek was Director of the Baltimore Museum of Fine Arts and in Washington, D.C. during World War II. While Mr. Cheek served in the Army, Mrs. McClenahan volunteered as a nurse's aid. After Cheek's discharge from the Army in 1945, they lived in New York City where Cheek had been hired as an Associate Editor of Architectural Forum Magazine. The couple returned to Richmond when Cheek became the first director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1948-1968). The Cheeks had four children. After Mr. Cheek's death in 1992, Mrs. Cheek married Dr. John Lorimer McClenahan, a retired Pennsylvanian radiologist, the following year.

Mrs. McClenahan is responsible for a number of Richmond civic initiatives, including bringing together the 35 groups that make up the Richmond Better Housing Coalition and founding the Richmond Urban Forum. She was twice president of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood and has participated as a volunteer and board member of numerous Richmond civic organizations, including Richmond Renaissance and Richmond-On- The- James. She has also been an active member of Richmond's historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Some of the organizations Mrs. McClenahan has been associated with include: Member, Executive Committee and Board of The Arts Council of Richmond Member, 175th Anniversary of the Executive Mansion Commission Advisory Committee Girl Scouts Member, Board of Historic Richmond Foundation Dame and Member of the Board of Governors of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem Member, National Committee, Jefferson Poplar Forest Fund Member, Board of Leadership Metro Richmond Member, Board of Maymont Foundation Chairman, Film Committee of the National Council for America's First Freedom: The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom Richmond AIDS Ministry Co-Chairman, Richmond Better Housing Coalition Member, Board of Richmond Hill Member, Board of Richmond-On-The-James Member, Executive Committee and Board of Richmond Renaissance Founder and Honorary Chairman, Richmond Urban Forum Director for Virginia and Past President, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association which administers Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee Former Vestry member and Junior Warden of St. Paul's Episcopal Church Member, Board of Theatre Virginia Past President (twice) and honorary board member of Virginia League for Planned Parenthood Trustee, Virginia Union University

Clubs include: Cosmopolitan Club, NYC Hroswitha Club, NYC James River Garden Club, Richmond Richmond First Club Richmond Kiwanis Virginia Writer's Club Woman's Club of Richmond

Awards Mrs. McClenahan has received include: Richmond's Christmas Mother (1973) Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities' Mary Maso Williams Award (1977) Junior League of Richmond's Barbara Renson Andrews Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service (1982) St Catherine's School's Distinguished Alumni Award (1983) Virginia League of Planned Parenthood Distinguished Service Award (1984) National Conference of Christian and Jews' Brotherhood Citation (1985) Omicron Delta Kappa's Conspicuous Attainment Award (1986) YWCA of Richmond's Outstanding Woman of the Year (1986) Richmond First Club's Good Government Award (1987) Richmond Urban League's Charlotte T. Washington Community Services Award (1988) Style Magazine 's Richmonder of the Year (1991) Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.) Fair Housing Award H.O.M.E. Sallie Wilson Peake Memorial Award for Outstanding Support of Fair Housing National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Silver Hope Award (1994)

Honorary Degrees Mrs. McClenahan has received: Doctor of Humanities from University of Richmond Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Paul's College Doctor of Humane Letters from Washington and Lee University Doctor of Humane Letters from Hollins College Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Commonwealth University

From the guide to the Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek McClenahan Papers, 1930-1999, (Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University)