Eva French LeFevre

Eva French LeFevre (October 20, 1851 – June 13, 1948) was a prominent philanthropist and the president of the Denver Orphan's Home. The LeFevres were some of the first pioneers of Denver.^[1]

Eva French LeFevre, Representative Women of Colorado, 1914

Early life

Eva French was born on October 20, 1851, in Piqua, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel French and Mary P. Heald.^[2] She studied at Bryn Mawr College^[1] and was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University.^[3]

Career

LeFevre was active in civic work involving children and education. She was president of the Denver Orphan's Home, secretary of the Wolcott School for Girls,^[2] benefactor of the Florence Crittendon Home for Girls^[4] and supporter of the Children's Hospital.^[4]

She was the original founder of the Charity Organization Society, one of the first charity movements in the country,^[4] on the first board of the St. Luke's Hospital and was an active member of the Ladies' Relief Society, an early Denver charity.^[4] She was on the board of directors of the Young Women's Christian Association and the oldest member of the Community Chest, which later became the United Way of America.^[4]

LeFebvre was director of Art Association^[2] and a benefactor of the Denver Art Museum.^[4] She was president of the Denver Branch of the American Association of University Women^[2] and a member of a number of clubs, including the Denver Women's Club, the Women's Press Club,^[4] the Denver Country Club and the Monday Literary Club.^[2]

Personal life

Owen E. LeFevre House, 1311 York Street, Denver, Colorado

On June 28, 1871,^[4] she married Owen Edgar LeFevre (1848-1921), a prominent judge in Denver until 1901,^[5] and had one daughter, Eva Frederiece LeFevre Bellamy (b. 1884).^[2] She moved to Colorado in 1873 and lived at 1311 York St., Denver, Colorado.^[4]

Owen E. LeFevre died in 1921, and Eva LeFevre lived at the Owen E. LeFevre House for the rest of her life.^[5] She died on June 13, 1948, and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.^{[6][better source needed]}