Philanthropist and civic benefactor Henry W. Corbett




1 philanthropist , civic benefactor

1.1 portland library association
1.2 portland art museum
1.3 others





philanthropist , civic benefactor

the city major trading center , bustling port (the largest after san francisco on west coast). shipped out lumber, wheat , flour , brought in manufactured goods.


corbett s business success made possible him provide infrastructure sinews of commerce , industry required in growing state , city, such banking, transportation, railways, buildings, iron mining , steel, water, electricity , telegraph.


the burgeoning city doubled in population every few years isolation rest of world meant portland welcomed each new group of arrivals , helped newcomers.


its citizens began envision portland great city. in due course, there desire participate in world of culture , art. became important leading families , civic leaders had means introduce city. frontier city, portland merchants had traveled main urban centers of east (and europe , beyond) , had become aware of culture, lacking in portland.


corbett among portland’s successful businessmen felt great city , civilized society required these elements , set helping establish , endow places of worship, educational institutions , museums such portland art gallery , portland library. in these institutions active participant, helping pick suitable boards , seeing flourished , contributed community.


leading portland families began collect fine books, art, furniture, oriental rugs , other fine objects homes. felt culture , books should available all.


portland library association

in order make books accessible, portland merchants began raise funds library , reading room in 1863. district court judge matthew p. deady, william s. ladd, henry failing , others, formed portland mercantile library association. in 1864, association s name changed library association of portland , constitution , bylaws adopted. corbett 1 of founding board members , trustee. (later portland library association became portland central library , multnomah county central library.) library gave access books of reference citizens of portland , housed on second floor of benjamin stark’s building @ first , stark , then, courtesy of william s. ladd, @ 1 dollar year, above ladd , tilton bank, moved in 1869 , remained 24 years. later moved, result of judge deady’s motivation , leadership, romanesque stone building of own in 1893 on south side of stark street between seventh (now broadway) , park portland art museum occupying second floor. architect william whidden of boston (formerly of mckim, mead , white, later found portland’s whidden & lewis). opened in 1893 under presidency of henry failing, had succeeded deady @ death. present building designed a. e. doyle (on 10th street between taylor, yamhill , 11th streets) opened in 1913 (there portraits of founders, judge matthew deady, henry failing, h.w . corbett , w. s. ladd on staircase).



the portland library building, built in 1893 house library on ground floor & portland art museum on second floor (oregon historical society)


portland art museum

corbett conceived idea of starting art museum in portland. portland art association founded in 1892 “to make collection of works of art , erect , maintain suitable building in same may studied , exhibited.” institution 1 of first 7 art museums established in united states.


the first trustees were: henry failing, president; h.w. corbett, vice-president; william m. ladd (william s. ladd’s eldest son), treasurer; 4 others: holt c. wilson, thomas l. eliot, w.b. ayer , c.e.s. wood. these original trustees , families later made donations of important artwork museum.


the original museum located on upper floor of library association building, , opened public in 1895. greek casts commissioned corbett went on display there. later corbett donated property site of first art museum building endowment. , caroline elliott ladd (mrs. william s. ladd) widow of former business associate , mother-in-law of eldest son, donated funds construction of building , collection installed there in 1905. in 1932, moved present location @ 1219 s.w. park avenue since expanded take whole block. these families made donations of art museum, added on decades , through following generations.


since 1932, when museum given more 750 traditional woodblock japanese prints collection of mary andrews ladd (and husband william m. ladd), museum s japanese print collection has grown more 2,500 works including remarkable works dating late 17th century present day. unique portland art museum, others extremely rare.


this beginning of portland art museum’s pre-eminence 1 of significant japanese print repositories. museum collection ranges important french , american impressionists, ancient greek modern american, african, pre-columbian , native american, sculpture, prints , silver.


william m. ladd , wife amassed major collection of on 5000 etchings including on 150 rembrandts , 1 of world’s 3 important collections of whistler etchings (all of sister helen ladd, mrs henry jagger corbett, separately collecting in concert him). other significant whistler print collections s. p. avery collection @ new york public library , 1 @ glasgow university hunterian museum , university library. greatest part of william m. ladd etching collection forms william meade ladd: h. v. jones bequest whistler collection @ minneapolis institute of arts in midwest (sold them in 1917 significant amount). sale made after ladd’s decision cover obligations on failure of title guarantee & trust company of held 30% stake @ cost him of on $2.5 million, though not legally liable.


others

corbett founding president of portland pioneer association in 1872, forerunner of oregon historical society, founded in 1892 (his grandson, elliott r. corbett, subsequent president of ohs when obtained land oregon historical society museum , building located on s.w. park avenue, opposite portland art museum. prior that, society had been housed in cramped space above portland auditorium).


corbett founder , trustee w. s. ladd, henry failing , c. h. lewis of portland old peoples home, children s home, young men s christian association (ymca), city board of charities, homeopathic hospital. h.w.corbett president of seamen s friend society, president of boys , girls aid society (the home built children guilty of first crime not thrown in prison among hardened criminals)) , other charitable organizations set aid less fortunate.


education being 1 of corbett’s central interests, founded portland academy , long-time supporter (and on board of trustees) of tualatin academy , pacific university. trustee , 1 of largest donors albany collegiate institute, forerunner of lewis & clark college. philanthropy saved fledgling college closing in years.


he president of board of trustees of first presbyterian church of portland, , provided funds towards erection of church, built in basalt , sandstone spire. supported other presbyterian churches throughout pacific northwest , trinity episcopal cathedral of portland.


corbett, ladd , failing bought first 286 acres (later increased) create non-profit river view cemetery on willamette river in 1879 (where later buried @ top of hill in family plots next door each other).


h.w. corbett donated substantial amounts charities during lifetime , bequeathed them in tenth of estate including portland art museum, children’s home, ymca, portland academy, presbyterian board of home missions, money building of home old ladies, , boys , girls society.








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