Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage
Encyclopedia
Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage (8 September 1828-4 November 1918) was an American
philanthropist. Upon the death of her husband Russell Sage
she received a fortune estimated at more than $50,000,000, to be used as she saw fit. She was born in Syracuse
, New York
and graduated from the Troy Female Seminary (later called the Emma Willard School
) in 1847.
In 1905, Olivia Sage informed Syracuse University
of her willingness to purchase Yates Castle and its surrounding property to house a teachers' college for the university. Olivia had begun to act independently of Russell Sage in a project that combined her attachment to Syracuse, her self-identification as a teacher, and her commitment to women's education. Her greatest single benefaction was the gift of $10,000,000 in 1907 to establish the Russell Sage Foundation
. In 1908 she donated $650,000 to Yale University
, enabling the purchase of the Hillhouse
property for Yale's expansion. In 1909, she donated Holder Hall to Princeton University
, named after her ancestor Christopher Holder
. Two years later, Sage gave $300,000 to Cornell University
for the construction of a women's dormitory, Risley Hall
, named after her mother-in-law. Her promotion of women's education also included funding the construction of the Olivia Josselyn House, named after her mother, at the then all female Vassar College
in 1912. Also in 1912, she acquired Marsh Island
in the Gulf of Mexico
and dedicated it as a home for wild birds. In 1916, she founded Russell Sage College
in Troy
, New York
. Later, in 1919 she gave $2,750,000 for the development of the Russell Sage Foundation Homes, a suburban community at Forest Hills Gardens
, Queens
. In addition she gave extensively to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI) and the Emma Willard School
. Up to 1915, the sum total of Sage's gifts surpassed $23,000,000.
Olivia Sage also organized the effort to fund and build the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor in honor of her grandfather, Major John Jermain, who fought in the American Revolution
. The library was designed by Augustus N. Allen
and presented as a gift to the people of Sag Harbor in 1910. The property was bought at a cost of $10,000, and was directly across from Sage's then summer home on Main Street. At that time, it was the highest price ever paid for a piece of real estate in Sag Harbor.
Mrs. Sage also used a large portion of her money to create Russell Sage College. Russell Sage College is a comprehensive college for women nestled within the historic district of Troy, NY. RSC offers liberal arts and professional degree programs in an environment aimed at empowering students to become women of influence in their careers and their communities.
She lived for many years in the building that is now the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philanthropist. Upon the death of her husband Russell Sage
Russell Sage
Russell Sage was a financier, railroad executive and Whig politician from New York, United States. As a frequent partner of Jay Gould in various transactions, he amassed a fortune, which passed to his second wife, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, when he died...
she received a fortune estimated at more than $50,000,000, to be used as she saw fit. She was born in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and graduated from the Troy Female Seminary (later called the Emma Willard School
Emma Willard School
The Emma Willard School, originally called Troy Female Seminary and often referred to simply as "Emma," is an independent university-preparatory day and boarding school for young women, located in Troy, New York on Mount Ida, offering grades 9-12 and postgraduate coursework...
) in 1847.
In 1905, Olivia Sage informed Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
of her willingness to purchase Yates Castle and its surrounding property to house a teachers' college for the university. Olivia had begun to act independently of Russell Sage in a project that combined her attachment to Syracuse, her self-identification as a teacher, and her commitment to women's education. Her greatest single benefaction was the gift of $10,000,000 in 1907 to establish the Russell Sage Foundation
Russell Sage Foundation
The Russell Sage Foundation is the principal American foundation devoted exclusively to research in the social sciences. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in New York City, the foundation is a research center, a funding source for studies by scholars at other institutions, and a key member of the...
. In 1908 she donated $650,000 to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, enabling the purchase of the Hillhouse
Hillhouse Avenue
Hillhouse Avenue, described, according to tradition, by both Charles Dickens and Mark Twain as "the most beautiful street in America," , is in New Haven, Connecticut and is home to many nineteenth century mansions including the president's house at Yale University...
property for Yale's expansion. In 1909, she donated Holder Hall to Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, named after her ancestor Christopher Holder
Christopher Holder
Christopher Holder was an Anglo-American Quaker minister who was persecuted in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his beliefs.-Early life:...
. Two years later, Sage gave $300,000 to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
for the construction of a women's dormitory, Risley Hall
Risley Residential College
Prudence Risley Residential College for the Creative and Performing Arts, commonly known as Risley Residential College, Risley Hall, or just Risley, is a program house at Cornell University...
, named after her mother-in-law. Her promotion of women's education also included funding the construction of the Olivia Josselyn House, named after her mother, at the then all female Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1912. Also in 1912, she acquired Marsh Island
Marsh Island (Louisiana)
Marsh Island is an island off the coast of southern Louisiana in the United States.Marsh Island is an uninhabited low-lying marshy island in Iberia Parish, south coastal Louisiana, lying between Vermilion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico...
in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and dedicated it as a home for wild birds. In 1916, she founded Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College is a women's college located in Troy, New York, approximately north of New York City in the Capital District. It is one of the three colleges that make up The Sage Colleges...
in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Later, in 1919 she gave $2,750,000 for the development of the Russell Sage Foundation Homes, a suburban community at Forest Hills Gardens
Forest Hills Gardens, Queens
Forest Hills Gardens is a community located in Forest Hills, in the New York City borough of Queens. Its streets are privately owned but open to traffic. The Northern Border runs along the L.I.R.R...
, Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. In addition she gave extensively to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(RPI) and the Emma Willard School
Emma Willard School
The Emma Willard School, originally called Troy Female Seminary and often referred to simply as "Emma," is an independent university-preparatory day and boarding school for young women, located in Troy, New York on Mount Ida, offering grades 9-12 and postgraduate coursework...
. Up to 1915, the sum total of Sage's gifts surpassed $23,000,000.
Olivia Sage also organized the effort to fund and build the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor in honor of her grandfather, Major John Jermain, who fought in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The library was designed by Augustus N. Allen
Augustus N. Allen
Augustus N. Allen was an architect known for designing buildings on Long Island and in New York City, as well as New Jersey. He also designed the office of American financier and railroad executive John W...
and presented as a gift to the people of Sag Harbor in 1910. The property was bought at a cost of $10,000, and was directly across from Sage's then summer home on Main Street. At that time, it was the highest price ever paid for a piece of real estate in Sag Harbor.
Mrs. Sage also used a large portion of her money to create Russell Sage College. Russell Sage College is a comprehensive college for women nestled within the historic district of Troy, NY. RSC offers liberal arts and professional degree programs in an environment aimed at empowering students to become women of influence in their careers and their communities.
She lived for many years in the building that is now the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum
Sag Harbor Whaling Museum
Sag Harbor Whaling Museum is a museum in Sag Harbor, New York, dedicated to the town's past as a prosperous whaling port. It houses the largest collection of whaling equipment in the state of New York.-Building:...
.
External links
- Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage profile at Internet Accuracy Project
- http://residentiallife.vassar.edu/josselyn.html