A Philanthropist to Remember

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles (who also penned The Paris Library), is a brilliant piece of historical fiction. It offers excellent writing, meticulous research, and a captivating story. Two individuals caught my attention, Anne Morgan and Mary Breckinridge.

Anne Tracy Morgan was born on July 25th 1873 at “Cragston” her family estate on the Hudson River at Highland Falls, New York. Anne was the youngest of four children born to John Pierpont Morgan and his wife Frances Louisa (Tracy) Morgan. Her life was one of privilege and wealth. She received a private education and traveled frequently. Disregarding her “status,” Anne provided relief efforts in France during and after both World War I and World War II. 

Sometime around 1910, much to her father’s dismay, Anne became a union activist. She supported the striking female workers in New York’s garment district. She and some of her female friends stood in picket lines with striking shirtwaist workers and contributed to their cause. The strikes in the garment industries of New York immediately followed the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Throughout this time and the subsequent ten years, Anne was also engaged in multiple community projects and enrichment endeavors, including suffrage.

Between 1917 and 1921, Anne was in France at Blérancourt, near the French front, running a large and impactful help organization. She employed several hundred people at a time financed by her own deep pockets and an active network in the States. The AFF (American Committee for Devastated France) was active in organizing health services that still exist in Soissons today, provided basic furniture to bombed out families, agricultural assistance, a camp for children and a mobile library. She returned in 1939 to assist the evacuees of Soissons once again. Much of Charles’ book, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, is based on her work in France. 

Dr. Anne Murray Dike joined Anne in at Blérancourt. Their great work during the war received acknowledgement and as they worked together a romantic relation developed. In 1930, the estate was converted into a museum. They buried Dike in the village cemetery at Blérancourt. 

A four-story townhouse built in the Sutton Place neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City for Morgan. It was donated as a gift to the United Nations in 1972. It is now the official residence of the United Nations Secretary General.

Anne Morgan had many friends in high places and always used her abilities, wealth, and connections to benefit those in need. This is just a small bit about her life and times. I hope you find her story intriguing and are motivated to learn more about her. She was a remarkable woman. 

The other woman, Mary Breckenridge, will be posted next week. Stay tuned to learn about another amazing woman!