Eva French LeFevre (October 20, 1851 – June 13, 1948) was a prominent philanthropist and the president of the Denver Orphan's Home. The LeFevres were some of the first pioneers of Denver.[1]

Eva French LeFevre, Representative Women of Colorado, 1914

Early life edit

Eva French was born on October 20, 1851, in Piqua, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel French and Mary P. Heald.[2] She studied at Bryn Mawr College[1] and was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University.[3]

Career edit

LeFevre was active in civic work involving children and education. She was president of the Denver Orphan's Home, secretary of the Wolcott School for Girls,[2] benefactor of the Florence Crittendon Home for Girls[4] and supporter of the Children's Hospital.[4]

She was the original founder of the Charity Organization Society, one of the first charity movements in the country,[4] on the first board of the St. Luke's Hospital and was an active member of the Ladies' Relief Society, an early Denver charity.[4] She was on the board of directors of the Young Women's Christian Association and the oldest member of the Community Chest, which later became the United Way of America.[4]

LeFebvre was director of Art Association[2] and a benefactor of the Denver Art Museum.[4] She was president of the Denver Branch of the American Association of University Women[2] and a member of a number of clubs, including the Denver Women's Club, the Women's Press Club,[4] the Denver Country Club and the Monday Literary Club.[2]

Personal life edit

 
Owen E. LeFevre House, 1311 York Street, Denver, Colorado

On June 28, 1871,[4] she married Owen Edgar LeFevre (1848-1921), a prominent judge in Denver until 1901,[5] and had one daughter, Eva Frederiece LeFevre Bellamy (b. 1884).[2] She moved to Colorado in 1873 and lived at 1311 York St., Denver, Colorado.[4]

Owen E. LeFevre died in 1921, and Eva LeFevre lived at the Owen E. LeFevre House for the rest of her life.[5] She died on June 13, 1948, and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.[6][better source needed]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Frederica Bellamy collection" (PDF). Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Binheim, Max; Elvin, Charles A (1928). Women of the West; a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of America. p. 109. Retrieved 8 August 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Owen E. LeFevre House". National Park Service. Retrieved July 13, 2018. With accompanying pictures
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bretz, James (2005). The Mansions of Denver: The Vintage Years. Pruett Publishing. p. 140. ISBN 9780871089373. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "About The Club". 1311 York Street Club. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Genealogy Report: Descendants of Daniel Ferree". Retrieved 2 October 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)