Phoebe Hearst
Encyclopedia
Phoebe Apperson Hearst was an American philanthropist
, feminist and suffragist. She was also the mother of William Randolph Hearst
.
. At the age of 19, she married George Hearst
, who later became a U.S. Senator. Soon after their marriage the couple moved to San Francisco, California, where Phoebe gave birth to their only child, William Randolph Hearst
, in 1863.
In the 1880s, she became a major benefactor and director of the Golden Gate Kindergarten Association and the first president of the Century Club of California. She was a major benefactor of the University of California, Berkeley
and its first woman Regent
, serving on the board from 1897 until her death. Also in 1897, she contributed to the establishment of the National Congress of Mothers, which evolved eventually into the National Parent-Teacher Association
. In 1900, she co-founded the National Cathedral School
in Washington, DC
. A public elementary school near the National Cathedral School bears her name.
In 1901, Phoebe Hearst founded the University of California Lowie Museum of Anthropology. Renamed Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
in 1992, in celebration of the Museums 9th decade. The original collection was founded with about 230,000 objects representing cultures and civilizations throughout history. The Museum now contains about 3.8 Million objects. Throughout her lifetime, and as denoted in her will, Phoebe Hearst donated over 60,000 objects to the Museum. She also funded expeditions by Anthropologist and Archeologist to study and collect objects. Most notable are the 1899 expeditions in Egypt by George A. Reisner and in Peru by Archeologist Max Uhle
. These Expeditions among others produced numerous well documented objects now in the museums collection, including approximately 20,000 Ancient Egyptian artifacts, the largest Egyptian collection west of Chicago. Phoebe also realized the importance of such a museum in preserving Native California Culture which, was rapidly disappearing at the hands of white settlers. With support from Phoebe Hearst, Anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber
, and his students, including Robert F. Heizer, Documented Native Californian culture in the form of photographs, audio recordings, texts, and artifacts. This research produced about 250,000 Native Californian artifacts, including photographs and sound recordings, the most extensive in the world. The museum collection is available to students and researchers for examination. A gallery located on the University of California Berkeley campus is available for public view.
She was raised a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith in the 1840s. In 1898 she converted to the Bahá'í Faith
, and helped play a key role in the spread of the religion in the United States
. She briefly travelled to Akka
and Haifa
in Palestine
(modern day Israel
) on pilgrimage, arriving on December 14, 1889. She later wrote, "Those three days were the most memorable days of my life."
She died at her home in Pleasanton, California
, aged 76, on April 13, 1919, during the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918-1919
, and was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
, Colma
, San Mateo County
, California.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, feminist and suffragist. She was also the mother of William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
.
Biography
She was born Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson in Franklin County, MissouriFranklin County, Missouri
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri on the south side of the Missouri River. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri....
. At the age of 19, she married George Hearst
George Hearst
George Hearst was a wealthy American businessman and United States Senator, and the father of newspaperman William Randolph Hearst.-Early life and education:...
, who later became a U.S. Senator. Soon after their marriage the couple moved to San Francisco, California, where Phoebe gave birth to their only child, William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
, in 1863.
In the 1880s, she became a major benefactor and director of the Golden Gate Kindergarten Association and the first president of the Century Club of California. She was a major benefactor of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and its first woman Regent
Regents of the University of California
The Regents of the University of California make up the governing board of the University of California. The Board has 26 full members:* The majority are appointed by the Governor of California for 12-year terms....
, serving on the board from 1897 until her death. Also in 1897, she contributed to the establishment of the National Congress of Mothers, which evolved eventually into the National Parent-Teacher Association
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
. In 1900, she co-founded the National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School is an independent Episcopal private day school for girls located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C...
in Washington, DC
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. A public elementary school near the National Cathedral School bears her name.
In 1901, Phoebe Hearst founded the University of California Lowie Museum of Anthropology. Renamed Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology is an anthropology museum located in Berkeley, California...
in 1992, in celebration of the Museums 9th decade. The original collection was founded with about 230,000 objects representing cultures and civilizations throughout history. The Museum now contains about 3.8 Million objects. Throughout her lifetime, and as denoted in her will, Phoebe Hearst donated over 60,000 objects to the Museum. She also funded expeditions by Anthropologist and Archeologist to study and collect objects. Most notable are the 1899 expeditions in Egypt by George A. Reisner and in Peru by Archeologist Max Uhle
Max Uhle
Max Uhle was a German archaeologist, whose work in Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia at the turn of the Twentieth Century had a significant impact on the practice of archaeology of South America....
. These Expeditions among others produced numerous well documented objects now in the museums collection, including approximately 20,000 Ancient Egyptian artifacts, the largest Egyptian collection west of Chicago. Phoebe also realized the importance of such a museum in preserving Native California Culture which, was rapidly disappearing at the hands of white settlers. With support from Phoebe Hearst, Anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber
Alfred L. Kroeber
Alfred Louis Kroeber was an American anthropologist. He was the first professor appointed to the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, and played an integral role in the early days of its Museum of Anthropology, where he served as director from 1909 through...
, and his students, including Robert F. Heizer, Documented Native Californian culture in the form of photographs, audio recordings, texts, and artifacts. This research produced about 250,000 Native Californian artifacts, including photographs and sound recordings, the most extensive in the world. The museum collection is available to students and researchers for examination. A gallery located on the University of California Berkeley campus is available for public view.
She was raised a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith in the 1840s. In 1898 she converted to the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, and helped play a key role in the spread of the religion in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She briefly travelled to Akka
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
and Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
(modern day Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) on pilgrimage, arriving on December 14, 1889. She later wrote, "Those three days were the most memorable days of my life."
She died at her home in Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
, aged 76, on April 13, 1919, during the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918-1919
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
, and was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, established by Hamden Holmes Noble in 1892, is a cemetery located in Colma, California, a place known as the "City of the Silent". It is the final resting site for several members of the celebrated Hearst family plus other prominent citizens from the greater San...
, Colma
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
, San Mateo County
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
, California.
External links
- Phoebe Apperson Hearst online archive, The Bancroft Library
- History of the PTA 1897-1899 The founding of the organization by Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Alice McLellan Birney
- Genealogy of Phoebe Apperson