Caroline and Olivia Phelps-Stoke were sisters born in New York City to wealthy and religiously zealous parents. They devoted their lives to Christian deeds through philanthropy, contributing to charitable, religious and educational institutions, as well as needy individuals. Of particular concern to them was the plight of blacks, both in America and Africa, giving generously to funds for schools and better housing. Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and Hampton Institute in Virginia were among the beneficiaries. Caroline bequeathed her estate to the establishment of the Phelps-Stoke Fund, to be used for improved housing and education for minority students. After the death of Caroline in 1909, Olivia contributed to Negro education through the Fund.
The Phelp-Stokes Fund was established in 1911, principally for the education of black people in Africa and in the United States. Dr Anson Phillips, one of the trustees of the Fund, chaired its education committee while Thomas Jesse Jones (1873-1950) served as the education director of the Fund. The latter had previously served on the US Bureau of Education in Washington, D.C. where he was involved in the production of two volumes on the education of blacks in 1917. He later served at the Hampton Institute, dubbed “the most successful institute of Negro education in the world”, as its director of research.
