Mary Dillingham Frear
First Lady of the Territory of Hawaii
In office
1907–1913
GovernorWalter F. Frear
Preceded byHelen Strong Carter
Succeeded byUnknown
Personal details
Born
Mary Emma Dillingham

(1870-06-30)June 30, 1870
Honolulu
DiedJanuary 17, 1951(1951-01-17) (aged 80)
Honolulu
SpouseWalter F. Frear (1893–1948; his death)
ChildrenTwo
Parents

Mary Emma Dillingham Frear (1870-1951) was First Lady of the Territory of Hawaii from 1907 to 1913, and was a regent of the University of Hawaii for two decades. The granddaughter of missionaries, she was the first Hawaii-born wife of a governor of Hawaii.

Background and family

She was born as Mary Emma Dillingham in Honolulu on June 30, 1870, but was nicknamed May.[1] Her father Benjamin Franklin Dillingham was the founder of the Oahu Railway and Land Company.[2] Her mother Emma Louise Smith was the daughter of missionaries Lowell Smith and Abigail Willis Tenney, who arrived in Honolulu on May 31, 1833. They were part of the sixth company of missionaries from New London, Connecticut.[3] Her brother Walter F. Dillingham became a successful industrialist in Hawaii. Two other brothers died in infancy. Marion, her only sister, became the wife of Presbyterian minister John Pinney Erdman.[2]

At Punahou School in Honolulu, her Greek language instructor was Yale graduate Walter F. Frear. When she enrolled at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, he returned to Yale Law School to pursue his LL.D.[4] After graduating from their respective schools, they returned to Honolulu and married on August 1, 1893.[5] They adopted two daughters, Virginia and Margaret.[6]

Public life

Mary Dillingham Frear (standing left) at a reception for Secretary of State Philander C. Knox, along with her husband and Queen Liliuokalani (seated dressed in black), 1912

Walter was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of both the Provisional Government of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii, and chief justice of the Territory of Hawaii. In 1907, he was appointed Governor of the Territory of Hawaii.[5]

Mary was a poet, writer and community activist.[7] Her poems were published in newspapers, eventually compiled into books. Two of her books were about the flora of Hawaii. She published a book on the lives of her grandparents Lowell Smith and Abigail Willis Tenney. Known for her community involvement, she was active with a local theatre group, was instrumental in building the YWCA in Honolulu, and was a regent of the University of Hawaii for two decades.[8] During World War II, she sat on the advisory board of the Hawaiian Chapter of the committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies. Among their endeavors was fund raising to provide ambulance trailers and soup kitchens to the allies.[9]

The Frears built a home in 1908 at 1434 Punahou Street. It was considered a mansion in its day. Upon moving in, they held a housewarming party for hundreds of guests.[10] They continued throughout their lives to make the home available for groups who needed accommodations for social gatherings or business meetings.[4]

Later years and death

Walter F. Frear died January 22, 1948.[11] Mary died January 18, 1951.[12] Upon her death, their mansion was bequeathed to Punahou School.[13][14]

Works

  • Frear, Mary Dillingham (1911). My Islands, Verses. F. D. Beattys & Co. – via HathiTrust.
  • Frear, Mary Dillingham (1927). Hawaiian Days and Holidays and Days of Long Ago. The Stratford company – via HathiTrust.
  • Frear, Mary Emma Dillingham (1929). Our Familiar Island Trees. R. G. Badger – via HathiTrust.
  • Frear, Mary Emma (Dillingham) (1934). Lowell and Abigail, A Realistic Idyll. Yale University Press – via HathiTrust.
  • Frear, Mary Emma Dillingham; McLean, Olive Gale (1938). Flowers of Hawaii. Dodd, Mead – via HathiTrust.
  • Frear, Mary Dillingham (1940). Isle of Dreams: Verses. Printed by Advertiser Pub. Co., Ltd. – via HathiTrust.

References

  1. ↑ Miss May Dillingham and Mr. W. F. Dillingham, daughter and son of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Dillingham, have returned home."Personal". The Hawaiian Gazette – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . June 30, 1891. p. 9, col 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Siddall 1917, p. 89.
  3. ↑ Hawaiian Mission Children's Society 1901, pp. 44, 48, 102.
  4. 1 2 "Mrs. Frear Dies Here; 80". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . January 18, 1951. p. 8, col 8. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Siddall 1917, p. 111.
  6. ↑ Pintler, Cora M. (July 31, 1943). "W. F. Frears Will Celebrate Golden Wedding". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . p. 10. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Hawaii Has Lost a Notable woman". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . January 18, 1951. p. 8, col. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Frear Hall | Student Housing Services". manoa.hawaii.edu. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ MacDonald, Betty (November 23, 1940). "Aid to the Allies! Islands at Work". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . p. 23. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Governor and Mrs. Frear Receive Many". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . January 21, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  11. ↑ Pintler, Cora M. (January 23, 1948). "Walter F. Frear 1863–1948". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Mrs. W. Frear, Kamaaina, Dies Here at 80". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . January 18, 1951. p. 1, col. 5. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Frear Bequeaths Mansion to Punahou". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com (subscription required) . February 2, 1951. p. 8, col. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Frear Hall (1951)". The Punahou74 Experience. 31 May 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2020.

Sources

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