Feldenheimer, Edith (1900–1984)

Edith Levy Feldenheimer was born on August 29, 1900, to Estell and Samuel Henry Levy, part of a wealthy and privileged family. She was sent to a private all-girls school, Miss Calhoun's School, in New York. The family spent summers in Europe, and the children were enrolled in French boarding schools. The outbreak of World War I nearly stranded Edith and her family in Europe, though they eventually managed to return safely home to New York.

Edith Levy attended Smith College from 1916 to 1920, a time she enjoyed immensely. Her academic focus there was writing, and she wrote for the college paper. Her personal interest, however, was piqued by Smith's Theater Department, where she worked with Sam Elliott, then head of the department, who encouraged her upon graduation to pursue a career on stage.

In 1922, after graduating from college, Edith and several Smith College students joined an archaeological expedition led by Professor Charles Peabody, curator of European Archeology at Harvard's Peabody Museum. He usually took male students interested in French archaeology on these expeditions; Edith was an exception to the norm. Through this expedition, she was able to make a small collection, which she subsequently donated to Smith College.

Much to Edith's sadness, her parents disapproved of their daughter's pursuit of a career in theater, which they felt did not suit their child's upbringing. She abandoned the theater and pursued her other talent, writing. For a few years, she wrote reviews for the Bookman, the New York Times, and the New York Herald.

On January 15, 1925, Edith Levy married Paul Feldenheimer, moved out West with him, and began a new chapter of her life in Portland, Oregon. Once arrived, she also revived her interest in the theater and actually played the lead in a play, The Thirteenth Chair, in 1926.

She became involved with the newly established Portland Art Museum. Before long, Feldenheimer was invited to become a member of the board in 1930. The early board of directors was committed to expanding and improving the museum and desired that Portland have something that compared with that they saw in similar sized cities back East.

Another passion that Feldenheimer brought with her to Portland was for the symphony. However, unlike the museum with its dedicated board, it was difficult to find support for the symphony project. [Page 227]Symptomatic of its level of support, the symphony's first home was cold and uncomfortable. After its opening night, the small and underfunded orchestra regularly failed to play to a full house. It took a major investment in time and effort to establish the symphony. Feldenheimer eventually served two terms as president of the symphony.

After her first term as president of the symphony, Edith Feldenheimer received an invitation to join the board at Reed College, a position she accepted with some reluctance, because most of her experience was in music and the arts. In 1961, in cooperation with Hubert Crehan, director of the art department at the time, Feldenheimer established the Reed College Art Associates program, which funded and sponsored various art shows. She was also a trustee for several years and eventually received an honorary degree from Reed College.

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