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Title
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Hearst, Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson (1842-1919)
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birthday
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1842-12-03
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Birthplace
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Saint Clair, MO
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Death Date
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1919-04-13
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Occupation
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Woman suffrage activist
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Biographical Text
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Phoebe Hearst was born Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson. As a child, Phoebe studied to be a teacher. She spent her childhood helping her father at his store, learning French, and playing the piano. After getting married in 1862, Hearst moved to San Francisco with her husband. In the 1880’s she was a major benefactor for the Golden Gate Kindergarten Association. She also became the first president of the Century Club of California. Hearst generously donated to the University of California, Berkeley. She served as their first woman regent from 1897 until her death. Hearst also contributed to the establishment of the National Congress of Mothers which later evolved into the National Parent-Teacher Association. In 1901, Phoebe Hearst founded the University of California Museum of Anthropology which was later renamed the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology. Throughout her lifetime and as directed by her will, Hearst has donated over 60,000 objects to the museum. She also used her money to fund numerous expeditions such as the Pepper-Hearst expedition in 1895 and Egypt expeditions in 1899. In 1902, Hearst funded the construction of buildings to train teachers and hold Kindergarten classes. The donation built 26 schools by 1906.
Phoebe met her husband George Hearst in 1860, the two married in 1862 when Hearst was 41 and Phoebe was 19. Once married, the couple moved to San Francisco, California, and had their only child, William Randolph Hearst. She passed away at her home during the Influenza Epidemic in 1919.
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Contributor
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Pryor, Erin
