Jennie McGraw, also Jennie McGraw Fiske (September 14, 1840 – September 30, 1881), was a millionaire philanthropist to Cornell University along with her parents John McGraw and Rhoda Charlotte Southworth. In 1868, she gave the university a set of chimes. The first tune played at every Cornell Chimes morning concert is the "Cornell Changes", also known as the "Jennie McGraw Rag". They continue to be played every day from McGraw Tower on the campus. She was also the founder of the Southworth Library in Dryden, New York. Upon her death, she left a significant bequest to Cornell University. Her will designated monies for a library, developing McGraw Hall, a student health center, and additional monies to be used as the university wished. She was married when she was 39 to professor and librarian Willard Fiske, but lived less than two years following the wedding ceremony.

Early life

thumb|Dryden Historic District

McGraw was born September 14, 1840, in Dryden, New York to Rhoda Southworth and John McGraw a self-made industrialist and millionaire. Rhoda McGraw died of tuberculosis in 1847. and the family lived in Westchester County, New York. The McGraws moved to Ithaca in 1862

She gave Cornell its set of chimes which have been rung daily since the University's opening ceremony on October 7, 1868. They were first installed in a temporary wooden structure and later in the McGraw Tower. Every morning concert includes a playing of the "Jennie McGraw Rag", also known as "Cornell Changes".

Her father discouraged suitors. Willard Fiske met Jennie in 1869 John McGraw died on May 4, 1877. The History of Dryden states that her step-mother received $2 million from his will, McGraw inherited a trust of $500,000. on what had been Cornell University land between Fall River and University Avenue in Ithaca. The house had Gothic architectural details like bartizans, turrets, and donjon keeps.

thumb|right|The McGraw-Fiske Mansion

Marriage and death

She took her last trip to Europe in 1878, in the hopes that the more temperate climate there would help her recuperate from tuberculosis;

thumb|upright|left|[[Anne Whitney, Jennie McGraw Fiske, bronze relief, 1891, Uris Library, Cornell University]]

The University's charter limited its property holdings to $3 million, but a New York State law on May 12, 1882, removed the limit. Another state law disallowed more than one half of a woman's estate go to charity if she was married when she died. Fiske became quite angry when he learned of the law and that it had not been mentioned to him by the executor of the estate. Fiske launched a legal assault to reacquire the money that the university could not accept, known as The Great Will Case. The case went to the US Supreme Court.

Today, McGraw's name graces numerous places and things on Cornell's campus. The central tower in McGraw Hall was constructed in order to house the chimes donated by McGraw; they now reside in McGraw Tower next to Uris Library.

References

Further reading

  • 'Behind the McGraw Tower chimes is a story of love and legal wrangling' by Susan Lang, Cornell News Service
  • Supreme Court case in list
  • Supreme Court opinion in Cornell v. Fiske (1890)