Helen Hartley Jenkins (August 16, 1860 – April 24, 1934) was an American philanthropist who contributed toward creation of health institutions, expansion of universities and supporting social welfare activities.[1][2][3]
She was engaged in charitable activities from childhood.[1] Following her father's death in 1902, she inherited a large fortune.[2] In 1903, she, with her nephew Marcellus Hartley Dodge, jointly gave Hartley Hall, a dormitory, to Columbia University.[1] A few years later she anonymously donated $350,000 for the building of Philosophy Hall at Columbia.[2][3] In memory of her daughter Helen who died in 1920, she gave the gates at the main entrance of Barnard College, her daughter's alma mater.[2] She also endowed and equipped the Marcellus Hartley laboratory for research in electricity.[1][3]
She was a principal donor of New York Polyclinic hospital. She also endowed (1910 and 1921) Marcellus Hartley Chair of Materia Medica of New York University Medical School.[1] Between 1907 and 1934, she served as trustee of Teachers College, Columbia University. She served as president of board of trustees of Hartley House from 1926 to 1934.[1][2] To promote specialized nursing education and training, she donated $150,000 in 1910 and $200,000 later for creating a new nursing department at Teachers College, Columbia University.[2][6]
In 1909 she established the Slavonic Immigrant Home in New York. She was a benefactor of the Tan Hus Bohemian Presbyterian Church in New York.[1]
On June 30, 1892, she married George Walker Jenkins who was the president of American Deposit and Loan Company.[3][4] They had two daughters.[1]
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