Overview

This is a biography of Detroit philanthropist Tracy McGregor and his wife, Katherine Whitney McGregor, that details their support of charities and social movements in the first decades of the twentieth century.In the turbulent era from 1890 to the late 1930s, Detroit emerged as a leading industrial and urban center and endured the crushing social and economic challenges of the Great Depression. It was during these years that Tracy W. McGregor, with the assistance of his wife, Katherine Whitney McGregor, established himself as a philanthropist and community leader. Though public buildings and a charitable foundation bear their names, relatively little is known about the private-minded McGregors, who avoided newspaper interviews or public exposure whenever possible.In ""Tracy W. McGregor"", Philip P. Mason scours the archival collections of the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, the State of Michigan, the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library and the Library of Congress to provide a comprehensive look at the remarkable work of the McGregors. Mason examines McGregor's successful campaigns to reform the political, judicial, and educational institutions in Detroit, as well as his establishment of mental health, correctional, and health care facilities in Michigan. In addition, Mason surveys McGregor's work as president of the prestigious Merrill-Palmer Institute and his major collection of Americana books, which now serves as the core of the University of Virginia Research Library.In all, Mason shows how Tracy McGregor was able to establish a mission for homeless men, permanently endow a major foundation, and lead in the creation and support of a variety of charitable agencies without governmental assistance and with only the support of nascent philanthropic and business networks. For Detroit historians and those interested in philanthropy and social activism, ""Tracy W. McGregor"" will be enlightening reading.

Full Product Details

9780814333761

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Reviews

Tracy McGregor's dedication to philanthropy and civic engagement helped to shape modern Detroit and improve the lives of its people. The book couldn't come at a better time. In these difficult days, we need to be reminded of the marvelous things that a good man can accomplish. - Kevin Boyle, author of Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age

"""Tracy McGregor's dedication to philanthropy and civic engagement helped to shape modern Detroit and improve the lives of its people. The book couldn't come at a better time. In these difficult days, we need to be reminded of the marvelous things that a good man can accomplish."" - Kevin Boyle, author of Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age"""

Author Information

Philip P. Mason is distinguished professor of history (emeritus) at Wayne State University. He is also the author of The Ambassador Bridge (Wayne State University Press, 1987), Copper Country Journal (Wayne State University Press, 1990), and Rumrunning and the Roaring Twenties (Wayne State University Press, 1995).

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