The Confluence
Student Type
Undergraduate
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Various historical scholars have examined the role of Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth on philanthropic attitudes and endeavors of affluent Americans during the Progressive Era. Modern developments, driven by post-structural feminist theory, have shown that rural-born Missouri women, exemplified by Phoebe Apperson Hearst, acted as complementary equals to Carnegie through their humanitarian efforts by uniquely interpreting and implementing his social doctrines. However, the existing scholarship has focused substantially on coastal developments, neglecting the role of this benevolence in rural Missouri communities. By examining the philanthropic endeavors of Lucy Wortham James, both during her life and post-mortem through her endowment of the James Foundation of the New York Community Trust, I will demonstrate how her philanthropic endeavors classify her as a complementary equal to Carnegie and that the Gospel of Wealth Ideas prominent on both the East and West coasts during the Progressive Era were made relevant, by James, to her rural hometown of St James, Missouri.
Recommended Citation
Rinehart, Jacob F.
(2025)
"Lucy Wortham James and the Gospel of Wealth: A Case Study of Female Philanthropy in Rural Missouri During the Progressive Era,"
The Confluence: Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62608/2150-2633.1092
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theconfluence/vol4/iss2/1
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Date
August 13, 2025
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Rural Sociology Commons, Social History Commons, United States History Commons
Author Bio
Jacob F. Rinehart (2003-) is a 2025 Lindenwood University graduate. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History and minors in secondary education and social studies. He is currently a high school history teacher in the Rolla R31 School district in Rolla, Missouri. He also helps run his family cattle farm near his hometown of St James, Missouri. Jacob was an active member of the Lindenwood campus through membership in Phi Alpha Theta (history), Kappa Delta Pi (education), and Alpha Chi (general) honor societies. He also served as the Lindenwood History Club President, a member of the Lindenwood Interfraternity Council, and on the social and executive boards of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In 2025, he won the Schoenhard American Heritage Award for his historical scholarship at Lindenwood.