Jenny McGraw Fiske Portrait
- Title:
- Jenny McGraw Fiske Portrait
- Collection:
- Campus Artifacts, Art & Memorabilia
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Photographer:
- Espinosa de los Monteros, Pamela
- Date:
- ca. 1856-1880
- Location:
- Temporary location: Conservation Laboratory, Olin Library. Former location: Uris Library, Andrew D. White Library, Cornell University
- ID Number:
- artsdb_1606
- File Name:
- artsdb_1606.tif
- Work Type:
- hand coloring
albumen prints - Materials/Techniques:
- Hand-colored albumen print in thermoplast frame
- Subject:
- Fiske, Jennie McGraw, 1840-1881
- Image View Type:
- General
- Image View Description:
- Front View
- Description:
- Jennie McGraw Fiske (1840-1881), benefactress of Cornell University. Jennie was born in Dryden, New York, the only daughter of millionaire and lumber merchant John McGraw. Her first gift to Cornell was the original set of nine bells provided at the University’s inauguration ceremony on October 7, 1868, now located in the Jennie McGraw Tower (formerly known as the Library Tower). Upon her death, Jennie donated a great portion of her estate to Cornell, particularly for the building of the University Library, now Uris Library. Controversy ensued over the rights to her estate, which resulted in a seven year court proceeding known as "The Great Will Case." At the end of the trial, the court favored her husband, Willard Fiske, and awarded him rights to Jennie's estate, taking the estate away from the University Library. Coincidentally, Willard Fiske was the first Cornell University librarian. Henry W. Sage, Cornell University Trustee and business partner of Jennie's late father John McGraw, would eventually provide the funds for the building of the University Library. Several art pieces of Jennie McGraw found in Uris Library intentionally leave out her married name, as a tribute to Jennie's intentions of building the University Library and supporting Cornell University. Upon his death, Willard Fiske donated a great portion of his estate to Cornell University including this bust of Jennie McGraw "Fiske.”
- Source:
- Patrick J. Stevens. “Jennie’s Gift: The Genesis of Daniel Willard Fiske’s Petrach Collection.” The City and the Book V. Cornell University Library, (accessed June 28, 2012), http://www.florin.ms/JenniesGift.pdf.
- Repository:
- Cornell University
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- The content in the Campus Artifacts, Art & Memorabilia Collection is protected by copyright, and the copyright holders are Cornell University Library and the Cornell Association of Professors Emeritus. This collection was created by Cornell University Library in 2010, with funding from a Digital Collections in Arts and Sciences Grant to Howard Howland. Cornell is providing access to the materials for research and personal use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Please contact the Cornell Association of Professors Emeritus at cape@cornell.edu for more information about this collection, or to request permission to use these images.