Huntington, Arabella Duval, 1850 or 1851-1924

Variant names

Hide Profile

Philanthropist and art collector Arabella Duval Huntington was the wife of the railroad and shipping magnate, Collis P. Huntington. After his death, Arabella married Collis' nephew, Henry E. Huntington. Both husbands put at Arabella's disposal immense funds for the purchase of works of art. Her purchases later became the foundation for Huntington Library and Art Gallery in California. Aside from her art collecting, Mrs. Huntington spent much of her time immersed in various charitable and humanitarian endeavors.

From the description of Arabella Duval Huntington papers, 1888-1925. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122557266

Arabella Duval Huntington was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1851. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Yarrington, raised Arabella in Virginia where she remained until her marriage at the age of eighteen. She married a Mr. Worsham of New York City in 1869 and returned there with him. However, he died a year later, leaving Arabella with an infant son, Archer Milton.* The next fourteen years were spent raising her son and educating him herself. In 1884, she married Collis P. Huntington, railroad builder and financier. Mr. Huntington legally adopted Archer. They lived a very happy life together until his death in 1900.

For the next ten years, Mrs. Huntington tried to carry on her husband's interests, visiting his shipyards and supporting charities in his name. In 1913, she remarried once more. Mutual interests in art attracted her to Collis P. Huntington's nephew, Henry E. Huntington, and after their marriage they traveled extensively in Europe, gathering the materials for what was to be the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery in California. She divided her time between New York and her husband's home in California. She remained active in numerous charities and good works until her death in 1924.

*This history has been questioned. A. Hyatt Mayor, Arabella's nephew, has suggested that Archer Milton was in fact the illegitimate son of Collis Huntington. [RR]

From the guide to the Arabella Huntington Papers, 1888-1925, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Huntington Estate Papers, 1955-1976 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Leevy, Isaac Samuel, 1877-1968. Isaac Samuel Leevy papers, 1905-1973. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Arabella Duval Huntington papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Arabella Huntington Papers, 1888-1925 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Cavalcaselle, G. B. (Giovanni Battista), 1820-1897. person
associatedWith Duveen, Joseph Duveen, Baron, 1869-1939. person
associatedWith Huntington, Collis Potter, 1821-1900. person
associatedWith Huntington family family
associatedWith Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927. person
correspondedWith Leevy, Isaac Samuel, 1877-1968. person
associatedWith Seligmann, Jacques, 1858-1923 person
associatedWith Tiffany and Company corporateBody
associatedWith Titian, ca. 1488-1576. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Upper class, United States
California
Subject
Antiques
Art
Art
Art
Art dealers
Women philanthropists
Occupation
Collector
Philanthropists
Activity

Person

Birth 1850

Death 1924

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rj86cm

Ark ID: w6rj86cm

SNAC ID: 9893159