Caroline Dutcher Sterling Choate

Caroline Dutcher Sterling Choate (June 16, 1837 – November 12, 1929, generally styled Mrs. Joseph H. Choate) was an artist, educational reformer, suffragist, philanthropist and socialite. She was the wife of lawyer and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Joseph Hodges Choate. As an advocate for women's education, Caroline Sterling Choate was one of the founders of the Association for Promoting the Higher Education of Women in New York in 1882. They petitioned Columbia University to admit women in 1883, but were refused on the grounds that women were not sufficiently prepared. In response, Caroline worked to establish a preparatory school for women, Brearley School, and then Barnard College for women. She was also involved in organizations for women artists, and she and her husband were instrumental in founding the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The family's estate, Naumkeag, is now a public museum and garden. Early life Caroline Dutcher Sterling, sometimes known as "Carrie", was born on June 16, 1837, in Salisbury, Connecticut. Her parents were Caroline Mary (or May) Dutcher (July 1, 1806 – January 20, 1898) of Canaan, Connecticut and Frederick Augustine Sterling (March 18, 1796 – January 24, 1859) of Salisbury, Connecticut. The Sterlings married on June 23, 1825, and had six children. Caroline and one of her brothers were named after their parents. The birth order of Caroline and her siblings is as follows: Theodore Sterling (b. 1827) Robert Sterling (b. 1829) Frederick Augustine Sterling (b. 1831, m. Mary Emma Betts) Edward Canfield Sterling (b. 1834) Caroline Dutcher Sterling (b. 1837, m. Joseph H. Choate) Alfred Elisha Sterling (b. 1843.)