James Graham Phelps Stokes, known as Graham Stokes (March 18, 1872 – April 8, 1960) was an American socialist, railroad president, political activist, and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

. He was president of the

Nevada Central Railroad The Nevada Central Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad completed in 1880 between Battle Mountain and Austin, Nevada. The railroad was constructed to connect Austin, the center of a rich silver mining area, with the transcontinental railroad, ...

for forty years. He is best remembered as a founding member and key figure in the Intercollegiate Socialist Society and as the husband of Rose Pastor Stokes, a

radical Radical may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Radical politics, the political intent of fundamental societal change *Radicalism (historical), the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and ...

union organizer and activist in the Communist Party of America.

Early years

Stokes was born in New York City to one of the city's most prosperous families. His parents were Helen Louisa Phelps and Anson Phelps Stokes, a banker, railroad owner, and real estate developer."J.G. Phelps Stokes on Lower East Side
''New York Times'', November 28, 1902.Arthur Zipser and Pearl Zipser, ''Fire and Grace: The Life of Rose Pastor Stokes.'' Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1989; pg. 28. He grew up in a large house on 229 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. His family spent the summers in their 100-room house in the Berkshires— the largest private home in the United States at the time. The family fortune came from Manhattan real estate, the Phelps Dodge mining empire, a and railroad in Nevada. He attended the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, receiving his Ph.B. degree there in 1892. There, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (

St. Anthony Hall St. Anthony Hall or the Fraternity of Delta Psi is an American fraternity and literary society. Its first chapter was founded at Columbia University on , the Calendar of saints, feast day of Anthony the Great, Saint Anthony the Great. The frater ...

). He celebrated his graduation with a trip around the world in 1892. He also attended the

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) is the graduate medical school of Columbia University, located at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Founded i ...

, receiving an M.D. in 1896. While at Columbia University, Stokes became concerned with the plight of the American underclass and poverty. In 1895, Stokes became a member of the Council of the

University Settlement The settlement movement was a reformist social movement that began in the 1880s and peaked around the 1920s in United Kingdom and the United States. Its goal was to bring the rich and the poor of society together in both physical proximity and s ...

and worked for the YMCA.Renshaw, Patrick. “Rose of the World: The Pastor-Stokes Marriage and the American Left, 1905–1925.” ''New York History'' 62, no. 4 (1981): 415–38. via JSTOR, accessed May 29, 2022. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23170033. Although his goal was to become a

medical missionary Medical missions is the term used for Christian missionary endeavors that involve the administration of medical treatment. As has been common among missionary efforts from the 18th to 20th centuries, medical missions often involves residents of th ...

, he never practiced medicine because he had to take over the family businesses from his ailing father.Zipser and Zipser, ''Fire and Grace,'' pg. 29. Following receipt of his medical degree, Stokes continued with a year of graduate study of political science at Columbia. Stokes served in Squadron A of

New York National Guard The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (NYS DMNA) is responsible for the state's New York Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, New York Guard and the New York Naval Militia. It is headed by Adjutant General of New ...

from 1896 to 1901. During the Spanish–American War, he was a private in the U.S. Army cavalry, but he did not deploy overseas. At this same time, Graham's father was active in the Anti-Imperialist League, described by one historian as "a group of substantial citizens" opposed to American intervention in the Philippines.

Career

Stokes was president of the

from 1898 to 1938. He was also president of the Nevada Company with offices at 47 Cedar Street and president of the Woodbridge Company at 100 Williams Street. While Stokes did participate in commercial affairs throughout his life, serving variously as an officer of businesses such as the Phelps Stokes Corporation, the Austin Mining Company, and the State Bank of Nevada, Stokes's primary interests and concerns lay in the realm of public affairs.Zipser and Zipser, ''Fire and Grace,'' pg. 30. In 1902, Stocks moved to the

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Traditionally an im ...

to take up settlement work. One of his friends explained, "Mr. Stokes is very much interested in social problems and he takes deep interest in questions concerning capital and labor. He is a thorough democrat in his spirit and feeling, and is opposed to social distinctions which separate the classes… He believes in plain people and feels that every effort which helps them to develop themselves is something to their advantage. He therefore feels that he can serve society best by living in a house which denies the existence of classes and which claims equal opportunities for everybody." Volunteer workers at the

received no pay, but did receive modest quarters on the top floor. Historians Arthur Zipser and Pearl Zipser describe the scene: "There was a lively intellectual atmosphere on the top floor of the University Settlement house, where the highly educated, mostly rich, young

social worker Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

s had their residence, dining, and club rooms. It was a world apart from the lower floors of the building, where the regular settlement house functions were carried out among the denizens of the surrounding ghettoized slum. This separation between leaders and led was not the goal they were aiming for, which was the outreach of the privileged to the downtrodden. But the separation was real."Zipser and Zipser, ''Fire and Grace,'' pp. 30-31. In addition to being a member of the Council of the University Settlement, Stokes founded and became chair of the board of

Hartley House Hartley may refer to: Places Australia *Hartley, New South Wales *Hartley, South Australia **Electoral district of Hartley, a state electoral district Canada *Hartley Bay, British Columbia United Kingdom *Hartley, Cumbria *Hartley, Plymou ...

in New York City. He also served on committees of the Church Federation, the

People's Institute The People's Institute refers to organizations set up in different localities: * People's Institute, Manchester * People's Institute, New York {{Short pages monitor