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Florence Haskell Corliss was born Englewood, NJ in 1873. She graduated from Smith College in 1893, and received an M.A. in Philosophy from Columbia University. She married Thomas W. Lamont, banker and CEO of J.P. Morgan and Co. in 1895 and they had 4 children. She was interested in philanthropic activities, especially those related to education and international affairs/peace. She served as a Smith College trustee from 1911-25. She also supported the New School for Social Research and, in 1948, donated 150 acres in Palisades, NY to Columbia University for the establishment of The Center for Geography Studies. Lamont was a supporter of the League of Nations and the United Nations. She served on the board for League of Nations Association and the Executive Committee of the American Asssociation for the United Nations until her death in 1952. She also served on various committees of foreign policy associations and was active in NY literary circles. Her friends included Robert Frost, John Masefield, and H.G. Wells. In addition to her philanthropic work Lamont wrote and published stories, poetry and articles, and contributed to the Journal of Philosophy. She also travelled frequently in Europe, Asia, Mexico.
The Lamont-Corliss Family Papers extensive files of Florence and Thomas Lamont's social, family, and philanthropic correspondence, writings (manuscripts), speeches, photographs, memorabilia, and clippings. There is also material related to Florence Lamont's interest in and concern for international peace, philosophy, and poetry. Family material consists of childhood writings, diaries, correspondence, letters to mother, husband, children, employees, relative to family news, trips abroad, domestic items, address books, guest lists, passports, photographs, genealogical material, privately-printed family history, obituaries, letters of condolence, tributes. A considerable amount of Smith College (1889- 1894) includes correspondence with family and friends, lecture notes, notebooks, invitations, programs, valentines, photographs. Philanthropic papers consist of correspondence about contributions, especially with Smith College, associations for poetry and philosophy, organizations for international understanding, and charities in New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Philosophic and literary papers include correspondence with literary figures, published and unpublished manuscripts and speeches on world peace, poetry, and philosophy. There are a small number of photographs, mostly of family. Correspondents of note include Thomas William Lamont, 1870-1948; John Masefield, 1878-1967; Jan Christiaan Smuts, 1870-1950 (photocophies); Arnold Toynbee, Lamont family; and Corliss Lamont, 1916- 1965. Topics include philosophy, philanthropy, Smith College, literature, socialism, United Nations.
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Lamont-Corliss Family Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
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