Lunt, Cornelia Gray

Born 1843; d. 1935; trustee of Northwestern University; of Evanston, Ill.

From the description of Orrington and Cornelia Lunt papers, 1883-1975. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70966239

Cornelia Gray Lunt was born in Chicago on March 19, 1843, her parents having moved to the city from Bowdoinham, Maine the previous year. Lunt's mother was Cornelia A. Gray (1819-1909) and her father was Orrington Lunt (1815-1897), a founder of Northwestern University who was known as the “father of Evanston.” She had two brothers, Horace (1847-1923) and George (1850-1895). Cornelia was a founding member of the Fort Dearborn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Chicago branch of the Associate Society of Colonial Danes. She was a member of Northwestern's Board of Trustees from 1896 – 1920.

Cornelia Lunt was sent to boarding school in Newburyport, Massachusetts for the years 1853-1854. She was brought home after suffering from homesickness. She then attended the Dearborn Seminary in Chicago from age 13 to 15 and later briefly attended Chicago Central High School. Her last years of formal education, from age 15 to 18, were at the Van Norman Institute, a finishing school in New York City. During her high school years she spent her vacations in Boston. It was there that she met the noted actor Edwin Booth who introduced her to what became a lifelong patronage of and participation in drama and music. Upon completion of her formal education she went abroad, traveling to Europe for the first time.

In October 1871 the Lunt home in Chicago was destroyed in the Great Fire. The following year, the Lunts moved to Evanston where Mr. Lunt had spent much time in connection with his duties as Trustee of Northwestern University and Secretary and Treasurer of Garrett Biblical Institute. Cornelia Lunt remained in the Evanston home for the rest of her life. She named it Anchorfast.

She was devoted to cultural and social activities and traveled often, including a trip with her father to the White House to visit President Lincoln. In Evanston her activities included helping Mrs. Henry Wade (Emma) Rogers to found the (Northwestern) University Guild, a town and gown organization comprised of community and university women who were concerned with promoting the arts. She served as its first President, 1892-1895. In 1894 the first meeting of the Fort Dearborn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was held at her home, and subsequently she served as a Regent of the Chapter for two years. She also was one of the founders of the Chicago branch of the Associate Society of Colonial Danes, a charter member of the women's Fortnightly Club of Chicago, and founder of the Evanston Amateur Concert Club.

Her ties with Northwestern University increased over the years. She and University Trustee James Raymond were instrumental in bringing Professor Peter Christian Lutkin to Northwestern. Under Lutkin's guidance the failing Conservatory of Music developed into a strong department and eventually became the School of Music at Northwestern.

In 1896 Cornelia Lunt became a member of the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University, serving until 1920. She refrained from joining the Board until 1896 because her father felt that she had too many commitments.

Following her resignation from the Board of Trustees in 1920, she remained quite active, continuing her annual trips to England. Her home at Anchorfast had always been the setting for gatherings of University and community friends and neighbors. Northwestern President Walter Dill Scott called Cornelia Lunt the “First Lady of Evanston,” and she was thereafter known by this appellation.

In 1925, at the request of her nieces and nephews, she wrote Sketches of Childhood and Girlhood, a privately published reminiscence of her life from 1847 to 1864.

On Christmas Eve 1934 she suffered a heart attack, and she died at her Evanston home two days later. She was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

From the guide to the Cornelia Gray Lunt (1843-1934) Papers, 1866-1964, (Northwestern University Archives)