Spelman College was named in this philanthropist's honor...
Laura Celestia Spelman Rockefeller
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Laura Spelman Rockefeller was an American educator and philanthropist who was the wife of John D. Rockefeller. She is also the namesake of Spelman College in Atlanta.
Both of Spelman’s parents were active in social causes; her father, a wealthy businessman, was an abolitionist involved in the Underground Railroad, and her mother supported the temperance movement. In 1859, Laura began working as a teacher in Cleveland, and three years later she became an assistant principal. In 1862 she began a relationship with Rockefeller, a former classmate, and the couple shared a strong involvement in the church. They married in 1864 and eventually had four daughters, one of whom died very young, and a son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. |
Laura and her husband were devoted to philanthropy, and in 1884 they began contributing to an Atlanta seminary for African American women that eventually became Spelman College. Laura also continued to be active in the church. However, her health began to fail in the early 20th century, and by 1910 she was largely bedridden. She suffered a fatal heart attack in 1915 at the Rockefeller estate in Pocantico Hills, New York. Three years later her husband created the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, which was involved in education and social welfare, among other issues. It later became part of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
The Story of Laura Spelman Rockefeller (Atlanta Stories)
How & Where to Connect
The connections to Laura Spelman Rockefeller are Spelman College, Rockefeller Hall and Laura Spelman Hall. Instructions for finding the college and these buildings are provided below.
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SPELMAN COLLEGE was founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary by Harriet E. Giles and Sophia B. Packard, two white New England missionaries who recognized the need for higher educational opportunities for African American women in the South. In 1884, John D. Rockefeller donated the funds necessary for the purchase of nine acres of land west of downtown Atlanta for the school's campus. The institution was subsequently renamed Spelman Seminary in honor of Rockefeller's wife. In 1924, the name of the institution changed again to Spelman College to reflect its status as a liberal arts college. Today, Spelman is part of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of African American institutions of higher education in Atlanta. Source: Atlanta History Center
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Spelman College in Atlanta was named after Laura Spelman Rockefeller
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Getting there...Rockefeller Hall and Laura Spelman Hall are located on the Spelman College campus. Buildings #15 and #20 on this Campus Map.
PLEASE NOTE: Spelman College is a private institution. You should make arrangements to visit the campus by contacting the Welcome Center. Spelman College 350 Spelman Lane SW Atlanta, GA 30314 Driving Directions | Google Map |
Don't miss...While you're there, be sure to visit:
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