Frank Lusk Babbott

Frank Lusk Babbott (August 14, 1854 – December 7, 1933) was an American jute merchant, art collector, patron, and philanthropist.

Frank Lusk Babbott
Born
Frank Lusk Babbott

(1854-08-14)August 14, 1854
Waterville, New York
DiedDecember 7, 1933(1933-12-07) (aged 79)
Brooklyn, New York
NationalityAmerican
OccupationJute merchant, art collector, patron, and philanthropist
Known forBabbott Field and Babbott Avenue, both in Waterville, New York, named in his honor

Early life

Babbott was born in Waterville, New York on August 14, 1854, the son of Miller Babbott and Mary Elizabeth Crandall.[1]

He was a childhood friend of George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak.[2]

Education

He was educated at Amherst College, graduating in the class of 1878. He then studied at Columbia University, graduating with an LLB in 1880.[1]

Career

Babbott was Director of Chelsea Jute Mills from 1883 to 1901.[1]

Babbott was a member of the Brooklyn Board of Education, and president of the Brooklyn Free Kindergarten Society.[1]

He was a trustee of various organisations:

He was vice-president of the New York Board of Education, 1902–1904.[1]

Babbott died on December 7, 1933 at his home at 149 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn.[5]

Literary career

Babbott edited "Classic English Odes", and "John Donne's Poems".

Personal life

Babbott's family home was 153 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, New York. They also owned an estate at Glen Cove, Long Island, advertised for sale in 2008 at $4.2 million.

Babbott married Lydia Richardson Pratt (1857–1904), daughter of Standard Oil magnate Charles Pratt on February 18, 1886.[6]

They had four children:

  • Mary Babbott, who married Dr William Sargeant Ladd
  • Frank Lusk Babbott Jr (1891–1970) (Amherst 1913)
  • Lydia Pratt Babbott, who married a Dr. Emlen Stokes
  • Helen L Babbott, who married Mr. Ian McDonald

Honours

Legacy

A public park (Babbott Field) and a street (Babbott Avenue), both in Waterville, New York, were named in his honor. The Babbott Room in the Octagon at Amherst College was named in memory of him.

He left a bequest of over $540,000 to Vassar College to establish the Lydia Richardson Babbott Endowment.[4]

The Frank L. Babbott Chair of Literature & The Arts at Packer Collegiate Institute is named in his honour, established by his family in 1977.[3]

References
  1. "Amherst College Class of 1878". Amherst College Biographical Record, Centennial Edition (1821–1921). Amherst College. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  2. Brayer, E. (2006). George Eastman: A Biography. University of Rochester Press. ISBN 9781580462471. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  3. "Frank L. Babbott Chair of Literature & the Arts". Packer Collegiate Institute website. Packer Collegiate Institute. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. "Vassar Newspaper Archive". Vassar Miscellany News, Volume XIX, Number 4, 13 October 1934. Vassar College. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  5. "Please wait..." interactive.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  6. "Babbott, Frank Lusk, 1854-1933". Frick Collection. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
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