Helen Macpherson Schutt

Helen Macpherson Schutt (née Helen Macpherson Smith, 1874–1951), was an Australian philanthropist.[1][2][3][4][5]

Helen Macpherson Schutt
Born17 April 1874
Melrose, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Died19 April 1951
Cannes, France
OccupationPhilanthropist, Benefactor(general)
Spouse(s)William John Schutt, a Barrister
ChildrenChildless
Parent(s)Robert Smith(F), Jane Priscilla, née Macpherson(M)

Early life

Helen Macpherson Smith was the only child of Australian born Jane Priscilla, née Macpherson, and Melbourne based, Scottish born timber merchant Robert Smith. She was born at Melrose, Scotland, on 17 April 1874. She lived at Fitzroy with her parents till she was seven years old and later she traveled to Europe, Britain, and Australia.[1][3][5] Smith was partly educated at a Scottish boarding school, and at Hanover, Germany, in 1889 and later attended Presbyterian Ladies' College and learned music, German, dancing, and Elocution.[1][3][5] She married a Barrister, William John Schutt on 11 December 1901 at Toorak Presbyterian Church, the wedding being widely reported in the press.[1][3][5] In 1919, William Schutt became a Supreme Court Judge. He died in 1933 at Melbourne.[1][3][5]

Trusts

Schutt was involved in many charitable trusts like - Seamen, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Royal District Nursing Service.[1][2][3][5] She left a huge amount to establish a charitable trust, Helen M. Schutt Trust.[1][2][3][6][7][8][5] In 2001, the trust was renamed as the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, and in honor of her memory, at the Melbourne General Cemetery, an obelisk was erected.[1][2][3][6][7][8][5]

Death

Schutt was childless and died of pneumonia on 19 April 1951, while staying at the Hotel Majestic at Cannes, France.[1][3][4][5] She was buried in a pauper's grave at Marseilles for unexplained reasons and later exhumed, and later cremated.[1][3][5]

References
  1. Sandilands, Jane, "Schutt, Helen Macpherson (1874–1951)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2019-03-26
  2. "About Helen Macpherson Smith". Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  3. "Schutt, Helen Macpherson (1874-1951) - People and organisations". Trove. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  4. School of Historical Studies, Department of History. "Schutt, Helen Macpherson - Biographical entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online". www.emelbourne.net.au. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  5. Sandilands, Jane (April 2010). Helen Macpherson Smith: Her Life and Lasting Legacy. HMS Nominees. ISBN 9780980720419.
  6. Bunyan, Marcus (2019-01-07). "Partnerships — Australian Institute of Art History". Faculty of Arts. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  7. Philanthropic Trusts in Australia. Association of Australian Philanthropic Trusts. 1983. ISBN 9780855634681. Helen Macpherson Schutt – Philanthropist.
  8. Tracey, Denis (2003). Giving It Away: In Praise of Philanthropy. Scribe Publications. ISBN 9780908011902.
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