Mabel Thorp Boardman

Mabel Thorp Boardman was an American philanthropist involved with the American Red Cross. She led the Red Cross in the United States following its receiving congressional charter in 1905 until World War I, however she did not take up the post of chairman since she believed the organisation would lose credibility with the public.

She was born on October 12, 1860 in Cleveland, Ohio to a welltodo family. Her father, William Jarvis Boardman , a lawyer and active in politics, was the grandson of the Senator Elijah Boardman. Her mother, Florence Sheffield, was the granddaughter of Joseph Earl Sheffield, who was a major benefactor of Yale University. She hadsiblings, including Josephine Porter Boardman Crane. The family moved from Ohio to Washington, D.C. in 18871888, although they maintained connections to Ohio politics including a friendship with the Taft family.

Source: Wikipedia