Helen Hay Whitney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Hay Whitney
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Whitney photographed by Frances Benjamin Johnston
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Helen Julia Hay
March 11, 1875 United States
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| Died | September 24, 1944 (aged 69) New York City, United States
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| Occupation | Poet, author, racehorse owner/breeder, philanthropist |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Joan Whitney Payson John Hay Whitney |
| Parent(s) | John Milton Hay Clara Louise Stone |
| Relatives | Amasa Stone (grandfather) Flora Stone Mather (aunt) |
| Honors | U.S. Racing Hall of Fame - Pillars of the Turf (2019) |
Helen Julia Hay Whitney (born March 11, 1875 – died September 24, 1944) was an amazing American woman. She was a talented poet and writer. Helen also owned and bred champion racehorses. She was known for her kindness and gave a lot of money to good causes. Through her marriage, she became part of the famous Whitney family in New York.
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Early Life and Family Connections
Helen was the daughter of John Milton Hay. Her father was a very important person in the United States government. He served as the United States Secretary of State, which is like the country's top diplomat. He was also the United States Ambassador to Great Britain.
Her mother was Clara Louise Stone. Helen's grandfather on her mother's side was Amasa Stone. He was a very wealthy businessman from Cleveland. He made his money in railroads and banking.
Helen's Career and Contributions
A Gifted Poet and Author
Helen Hay Whitney was a skilled poet. She also wrote books, especially for children. Many of her poems were printed in Harper's Magazine. This was a popular magazine at the time.
One of her poems, Love of the Rose, was even used in an opera. It was part of Leon Ardin's opera called Antony and Cleopatra. She published a collection of poems called Herbs And Apples in 1910. These poems had appeared in other magazines like The Metropolitan Magazine and Collier's Weekly. Other works include "Songs and Sonnets" and "Gypsy Verses." Many of her poems have been printed again recently.
Success in Horse Racing
After her husband passed away in 1927, Helen took over their horse business. She managed Greentree and Greentree Stable. This stable became a very important name in Thoroughbred flat racing and steeplechase (horse racing over obstacles).
Her horses were incredibly successful. They won the American Grand National steeplechase four times. This happened in 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1937. In regular flat racing, her horses won two major races. They won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in both 1931 and 1942.
In 2019, Helen Hay Whitney received a huge honor. She was added to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. This is the highest award in horse racing. She was recognized as one of the "Pillars of the Turf" for her lasting impact.
Helping Others Through Philanthropy
Helen inherited a large amount of money when her husband died. She used much of this money to help various causes. This act of giving money to good causes is called philanthropy.
She gave a lot of money to Yale University. This funding helped build the Payne Whitney Gymnasium there. In 1943, Helen and her daughter Joan started the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation. This foundation helps young scientists. It supports their early research training in basic biomedical sciences.
Helen's Personal Life
In 1902, Helen married Payne Whitney. His father was William Collins Whitney. Together, Helen and Payne had two children:
- Joan Whitney (1903–1975): She became famous as the first owner of the New York Mets. This is a professional baseball team in Major League Baseball.
- John Hay Whitney (1904–1982): He followed in his grandfather's footsteps. John served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
The couple built a beautiful home in New York City. It was located at 972 Fifth Avenue and designed by a famous architect, Stanford White. Helen lived in this house until she passed away in 1944. Today, the government of France owns the property. It is part of the French Embassy in the United States.
The Whitneys also owned a large country estate. It was about 438 acres (1.77 square kilometers) in Manhasset, New York. They called this beautiful property Greentree.
When Helen Whitney died in 1944, she left many valuable items to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These included twenty-four objects. Among them were paintings, ceramics, textiles, and furniture.
