Harriet Smith Benson, the kindly spinster who spawned a three four generation naming dynasty was more than just a nice woman, she was one of the richest women in Philadelphia and when she died, gave most of it away...
The New York Times, September 10, 1902
HALF A MILLION FOR CHARITY
The Will of Miss Harriet S. Benson of Philadelphia
Disposes of More Than 2,000,000 Estate
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sept. 10th - The will of Miss Harriet A. Benson, who in life was prominent as a philanthropist, was admitted to probate today . The testament, to which are attached ten codicils, disposes of an estate estimated to be worth upward of $2,000,000. The testatrix made charitable bequests amounting to a half-million dollars. Among the more prominent institutions remembered are the following:
The American Sunday School Union: $25,000
The Women's Union Foreign Missionary Society and the China Island Mission: $50,000 each
Seaside Home for Invalid Women, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Seamen's Friends Society, Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind; Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Pennsylvania Asylum for Indigent Widows and Single Women; Pennsylvania Industrial Home for Blind Women; Pennsylvania Working Home for Blind Men; Home Missionary Society; Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children; Children's Seashore Home, Atlantic City; Hampton, Virginia Normal School and Agricultural Institute; American Colonization Society; Pennsylvania Society to Protect Children from Cruelty; and Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, $5,000 each.
The sum of $10,000 is devised to Charles M. Morton to be expended by him in aiding certain charities not mentioned in the will.
The codicile bequeath $10,000 to the Evangelistic Mission in France known as the McAll Mission. $5,000 to the director of the various institutions in East London and elsewhere known as "Dr. Bernardo's home and missions." $5,000 to the Indian School at Carlisle, PA; $25,000 the income to be paid the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Episcopal Church; $25,000 the income to be used by the American Board of Commissioners For Foreign Missions for mission work in Africa; and $2,000 to the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School.
Numerous other bequests are made to local charitable institutions.
Boston Evening Transcript September 5, 1902 Obituary:
Miss Harriet S. Benson, one of Philadelphia's richest women, a descendant of a Revolutionary officer of distinction, died Wednesday, aged seventy-five. Her wealth was estimated at from $4,000,000 to $5,000,000, a large part of the income from which she annually spent in charity.
The Reformed Episcopal Seminary continues a tradition that began in 1887, when it was founded as The Theological Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
The Reformed Episcopal Church was established in 1873 by evangelical Episcopalians in response to developments in the Protestant Episcopal Church of that day. By 1877, the necessity of providing formal theological education for future Reformed Episcopal clergy led to a number of experiments in providing ministry training.
On March 6,1886 Harriet S. Benson, a Philadelphia Reformed Episcopalian, proposed to create a trust to build and administer a denominational seminary and a massive new church in West Philadelphia. Miss Benson's trust was unanimously received by the General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church. The cornerstone of the Seminary building was laid in October 1886, and the Seminary was opened for its first classes in September 1887.
The Hahneman Monthly Volume 39
One of the most difficult of the problems which to-day confronts the management of un-endowed medical schools is that of securing sufficient income for maintaining an educational equipment such as is demanded by the modern methods of medical instruction...
...We are sadly in need of funds, more especially for the establishment of a new or enlarged dispensary building and pathological laboratories and for an endowment, the interest of which shall enable us to increase the salaries, and the number of salaried instructors particularly in the laboratory departments.
In this connection I am glad to inform you that in the past year the college department has received its first contribution toward such a fund, in a legacy of $5000 from the estate of Harriet Smith Benson of this city, and we trust this may stimulate other generous friends of our institution to similar gifts.
POLICE MATRONS
"The Associated Committee of Women on Police Matrons" meets monthly, with three representatives each from a number of the charitable associations in this city. Dr. Emily J. Ingram, Mary S. Whelen, and Mrs. P. W. Lawrence represent the Prison Society. I regret that I am not able to give a summary of the number coming under the care of the Matrons, of whom there are now 21 in the city. They are doing most excellent work in caring for lost children, women losing their way, demented ones, etc.
It is a very rare circumstance for The Pennsylvania Prison Society to receive a legacy, as in the whole 116 years of its existence the whole of its bequests would not amount to as much as many an association would receive in a moderate one. Therefore, it is with much satisfaction that I record that by the will of the late Harriet S. Benson, of Philadelphia, she bequeathed $10,000 (only $5,000 of which is for the benefit of the Prison Society, the other $5,000 being left to us for the benefit of the Home for Discharged Prisoners). A memorial to her memory will follow, as well as one to a late member of the Acting Committee.
Feeling that this work is of the Lord and that He has called me to the service, I desire to consecrate my time and my talents to it, and knowing that of myself I can do nothing, I earnestly invoke the Divine blessing upon my labors, and that He who has called me to it may receive all the glory and honor which is His due. Thankful for continued health and strength, which has been vouchsafed to me, and asking for a continuance of the same, this report is respectfully submitted.
John J. Lytle, General Secretary
IN MEMORIUM
HARRIET S. BENSON
Whereas, Miss Harriet S. Benson departed this life on the 3rd day of September, Anno Domini 1902, a devoted Christian woman, with a heart full of love, and a life of good works, while the possessor of great wealth, also possessed of that most excellent gift of charity, actively and personally engaged in the service of her Lord and Saviour for many long years.
And Whereas, in her last will and testament she gave and bequeathed to The Pennsylvania Prison Society the gift of $10,000 ($5,000 of which was for the use of the Home for Discharged Prisoners), thus giving us substantial strength and encouragement in our work.
Therefore, Resolved, in order to give some palpable token of gratitude, and to keep alive in the minds of future members of this society this great act of Christian benevolence that a copy of this minute be engrossed, framed, and hung upon the walls of the society's room, signed by one of the executors, our worthy President, and the Secretary and Treasurer of the Society.
And also Resolved, That a copy hereof be sent to Edward M. Benson, Miss Benson's only surviving brother, and to her cousin, R. Dale Benson.
Other Organizations that benefited from Harriet's charitable giving:
The Fairmount Park Association
The Philadelphia Children's Homeopathic Hospital
Overbrook School for the Blind
The African Repository
St. Andrew's Church, Philadelphia
The Reindeer Fund
