Blanchette Ferry Rockefeller

Blanchette Ferry Rockefeller (née Hooker; October 2, 1909 – November 29, 1992) was an American art sponsor, twice president of the Museum of Modern Art, and wife of John D. Rockefeller III and mother of Jay Rockefeller. Biography Blanchette Ferry Hooker was born in Manhattan in New York City on October 2, 1909. She was the daughter of Elon Huntington Hooker, founder of Hooker Chemical Company, and his wife, Blanche Ferry. She graduated from Miss Chapin's School in 1927, where she was president of the student government. She graduated from Vassar College in 1931 with a B.A. in music. On November 11, 1932, she married John D. Rockefeller III, a scion of the prominent Rockefeller family, at Riverside Church in New York City. They had four children: John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV Hope Aldrich Rockefeller Sandra Ferry Rockefeller Alida Ferry Rockefeller Blanchette devoted her time to community service, education, and the arts - in particular the collection of Asian and American art. "She had been active in the affairs of the Museum of Modern Art since 1949 and was elected a member of the Board of Trustees in December 1952. In 1958, at a time when many Americans derided modern art or thought it communist and subversive, Rockefeller lent her support to the International Program that helped send The New American Painting, the first major exhibition of Abstract Expressionism, to eight European cities."