Dorothy Payne Elmhirst was an American-born social activist, philanthropist, publisher and a member of the prominent Whitney family.
Dorothy Payne Whitney in 1915
Dorothy's New York residence at 1130 Fifth Avenue
Willard Straight Hall at Cornell, opened in 1925.
Mrs. Willard Straight by Flameng
The Whitney family is a prominent American family descended from English immigrant John Whitney (1592–1673), who left London in 1635 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. The historic family mansion in Watertown, known as The Elms, was built for the Whitneys in 1710. The Whitneys today occupy a distinguished position in American society as a result of their entrepreneurship, wealth, and philanthropy. They are also members of the Episcopal Church.
Eli Whitney Jr. (1765–1825)
William Collins Whitney (1841–1904)