Mary Clark Thompson (1835 – July 28, 1923), born Mary Lee Clark, was a noted

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 ...

and wife of banker Frederick Ferris Thompson.

Early years

Mary Lee Clark was born in Naples, New York in 1835 to Myron Holley Clark (1806–1892) and Zilpha (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Watkins) Clark (1806–1877). She moved with her family to Canandaigua, New York when she was about two years old. She attended various schools in Ontario County, including the Ontario Female Seminary. Mary's father Myron was elected

Governor of New York The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has ...

State in 1855, and the family took up residence in Albany, the state's

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

Philanthropy

Thompson and her husband became generous benefactors to multiple organizations and established themselves as philanthropists. Some of the more notable institutions benefited by Thompson endowments and donations include Williams College, Vassar College, and Teacher's College (now Columbia University). Thompson was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a great benefactor to the Bronx Zoo and Woman's Hospital. Her husband died in 1899 at age 62 in New York City, and Mary continued to make Sonnenberg her summer home. She continued to give generously to civic, religious, and educational institutions, though her philanthropic work focused principally on the community in which she lived. In Canandaigua, she established and built the F.F. Thompson Hospital in 1903 and the Woodlawn Cemetery chapel, and a swimming school on the shore of Canandaigua Lake. She established a retirement home which she named Clark Manor House after her parents. She donated land and money for the city's post office, and contributed heavily to the local Ontario County historical society, th
Wood Library
and numerous local churches. She had an interest in preserving the history of Native Americans in the New York area, and made multiple contributions to the State Museum in Albany for that purpose.

Personal life

While in Albany, Mary met her future husband, Frederick Ferris Thompson, son of prominent New York banker

John Thompson John Thompson may refer to: Academics * J. A. Thompson (1913–2002), Australian biblical scholar * John D. Thompson (1917–1992), nurse and professor at the Yale School of Public Health * John G. Thompson (born 1932), American mathematician * ...

. The couple were married on June 17, 1857 in Canandaigua. Frederick, his brother Samuel, and their father founded

First National Bank of the City of New York First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...

(a predecessor to today's

Citibank Citibank, N. A. (N. A. stands for " National Association") is the primary U.S. banking subsidiary of financial services multinational Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City ...

) and Chase National Bank of the City of New York (a predecessor to today's JPMorgan Chase Bank). Although the Thompson's principal residence was at 283

Madison Avenue Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States, that carries northbound one-way traffic. It runs from Madison Square (at 23rd Street) to meet the southbound Harlem River Drive at 142nd Stre ...

in New York City, the couple spent their summers in Mary's girlhood home of Canandaigua on an estate they purchased in 1863. The estate was named Sonnenberg (means "sunny hill" in German) when they purchased it. In 1885, they tore down the farmhouse and replaced it with a 40-room Queen-Anne style mansion. Her interests included enjoyment of gardens, and she had nine formal gardens built at Sonnenberg. Often she would allow the public to come on the property and walk through her gardens. Her husband died in 1899 at age 62 in New York City, Mary died on July 28, 1923 at age 87 at Sonnenberg. Mary and Frederick, who had no children, are both interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua.

Honors and legacy

In 1920 she was awarded the Cornplanter Medal for her work in Native American history. Her home, Sonnenberg, is preserved and operated as a historic house museum. The Mary Clark Thompson Medal is named for her. It has been awarded since 1921 by the American

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Nati ...

for work in geology and paleontology.

References

External links

Thompson, Mary Clark (1835-1923)
at Williams College * {{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Mary Thompson Philanthropists from New York (state) 1835 births 1923 deaths People from Naples, New York People from Canandaigua, New York People from Albany, New York People from Manhattan People associated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art