Marie Selby

Marie Selby (August 9, 1885 – 1971) was an American philanthropist known for her support of various arts and cultural centers. Most notably, the world-renowned Marie Selby Botanical Gardens were named after her which was founded in 1973 when she bequeathed her former home and 15-acre property "for the enjoyment of the general public."

Early life Born Mariah Minshall in Wood County, West Virginia on August 9, 1885, her family moved to Marietta, Ohio where her father studied geology at Marietta College, focusing on oil drilling equipment and inventions for improvement in the industry.

Career On May 6, 1927, the Sarasota Garden Club was established. Selby was a founding member as part of the Founder's Circle, It has now grown to a 45-acre site, with the addition of the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in Osprey on May 1, 2020.

The William G. & Marie Selby Foundation began as a charitable trust of $3 million. According to their website, they gifted over $120 million to individuals and organizations, contributing $3 million a year for scholarships and local community grants. Selby remained active at the Foundation after her husband's death, often matching grants and encouraging giving.

Her appreciation for the outdoors and adventurous spirit is exemplified in becoming one of the first women to cross the country by car, after being inspired by the country's first cross-country automobile race. Selby and her husband completed the trip from Seattle to New York City in six days less than the winning car.

Personal life Selby married William (Bill) Selby on January 31, 1908, in the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta. Bill Selby was a partner at his father's business, Selby Oil and Gas Company, which merged with the Texas Company in the 1940s to become Texaco. Selby and her husband did not have children of their own during their forty-eight year marriage, but were "concerned about young people" and used their money to help future generations through the William G. & Marie Selby Foundation established in 1955, one year prior to Bill's death.