Eva French LeFevre

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

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

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
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]

References
  1. "Frederica Bellamy collection" (PDF). Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. 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. Bretz, James (2005). The Mansions of Denver: The Vintage Years. Pruett Publishing. p. 140. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  5. "About The Club". 1311 York Street Club. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. "Genealogy Report: Descendants of Daniel Ferree". Retrieved 2 October 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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