Elizabeth Rockefeller Strong

Elizabeth "Bessie" Rockefeller (August 23, 1866 – November 14, 1906) was the eldest child of Standard Oil co-founder John Davison Rockefeller (1839–1937) and school teacher Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman (1839–1915).

Bessie Rockefeller was a special student at Vassar College 1886–1888. Strong Hall, the school's first dormitory, was named in honor of Bessie in 1893 by her father who contributed $35,000 toward the expense of the construction.

On March 22, 1889, she married philosopher and psychologist Charles Augustus Strong and had one daughter, Margaret Rockefeller Strong (1897–1985).

Further reading

• Chernow, Ron. Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr. London: Warner Books, 1998.
• Stasz, Clarice. The Rockefeller Women: Dynasty of Piety, Privacy, and Service. New York: St. Martins Press. (1995).

See also

• Rockefeller family
• John D. Rockefeller