Frank Bailey (financier)
Encyclopedia
Frank Bailey was a Brooklyn
-based financier and philanthropist. He was married to Marie Louise Eastman. They maintained a city residence in Brooklyn, and a country residences in Locust Valley (near Lattingtown on Long Island
), which they purchased in 1911 and jokingly named 'Munnysunk'. The estate became the 42-acre Bailey Arboretum
.
Bailey was born in Chatham, New York
. His father, Dr. William Cady Bailey, was a medical doctor and amateur naturalist (who had studied botany under Amos Eaton
). His mother was a school-teacher and homemaker, 20 years younger than his father, a relative of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
, and a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College. His parents' house was a station on the Underground Railroad
for escaped slaves.
After going to a local school, then Spencertown Academy
, Frank Bailey attended and graduated from Union College
in Schenectady in 1885 on a scholarship after Williams College turned him down for lack of finances). He served as the Union College treasurer for 51 years, and the college's Frank Bailey Field is named after him.
His career began as a clerk a clerk at the Title Guarantee and Trust Company. By 1891 he became vice president of its Brooklyn office, and later became company president until 1924.
Bailey was active in public service. He was a founder and trustee
of the Museum of the City of New York
, a trustee of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences
, and chairman of the famous Brooklyn Botanic Garden
. In 1929, the Baileys gave $125,000 ($1.6 million in 2011 dollars) for the construction of a fountain in Brooklyn's Park Slope Grand Army Plaza, selected on a design competition.
His autobiography, It Can’t Happen Here Again: The Life Story of a Self-Made Man, was published in 1945 by Alfred A. Knopf (ASIN B0007E41VS).
In honor of his humane philosophy of life and nature, his great granddaughter and great great granddaughter have established a top level equestrian breeding and showing farm, and named it Muny Sunk Stables, Inc. (There is only one "Munnysunk", says his great granddaughter, Christine Vanneck).
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based financier and philanthropist. He was married to Marie Louise Eastman. They maintained a city residence in Brooklyn, and a country residences in Locust Valley (near Lattingtown on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
), which they purchased in 1911 and jokingly named 'Munnysunk'. The estate became the 42-acre Bailey Arboretum
Bailey Arboretum
The Bailey Arboretum is a arboretum located in Lattingtown, New York, a small village on the North Shore of Long Island. Situated on the former estate of Mr. and Mrs...
.
Bailey was born in Chatham, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His father, Dr. William Cady Bailey, was a medical doctor and amateur naturalist (who had studied botany under Amos Eaton
Amos Eaton
Amos Eaton was a scientist and educator in the Troy, New York area.Eaton attended Williams College; after graduating in 1799 he studied law in New York City and was admitted to the state bar in 1802. He practiced law in Catskill, New York until 1810, when he was jailed on charges of forgery...
). His mother was a school-teacher and homemaker, 20 years younger than his father, a relative of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an American social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early woman's movement...
, and a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College. His parents' house was a station on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
for escaped slaves.
After going to a local school, then Spencertown Academy
Spencertown Academy
The former Spencertown Academy is located along the NY 203 state highway in Spencertown, New York, United States. It is a mid-19th century building in the Greek Revival architectural style....
, Frank Bailey attended and graduated from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in Schenectady in 1885 on a scholarship after Williams College turned him down for lack of finances). He served as the Union College treasurer for 51 years, and the college's Frank Bailey Field is named after him.
His career began as a clerk a clerk at the Title Guarantee and Trust Company. By 1891 he became vice president of its Brooklyn office, and later became company president until 1924.
Bailey was active in public service. He was a founder and trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
, a trustee of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
, and chairman of the famous Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a botanical garden in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Located near the Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, and Park Slope neighborhoods, the garden includes a number of specialty "gardens within the Garden," plant collections, and the Steinhardt Conservatory,...
. In 1929, the Baileys gave $125,000 ($1.6 million in 2011 dollars) for the construction of a fountain in Brooklyn's Park Slope Grand Army Plaza, selected on a design competition.
His autobiography, It Can’t Happen Here Again: The Life Story of a Self-Made Man, was published in 1945 by Alfred A. Knopf (ASIN B0007E41VS).
In honor of his humane philosophy of life and nature, his great granddaughter and great great granddaughter have established a top level equestrian breeding and showing farm, and named it Muny Sunk Stables, Inc. (There is only one "Munnysunk", says his great granddaughter, Christine Vanneck).
Related
- Bailey ArboretumBailey ArboretumThe Bailey Arboretum is a arboretum located in Lattingtown, New York, a small village on the North Shore of Long Island. Situated on the former estate of Mr. and Mrs...
- Grand Army Plaza, The Bailey Fountain
- Union CollegeUnion CollegeUnion College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
- Muny Sunk Stables, Inc