Martha Mercer, née Dana
US art collector and philanthropist
About Martha Mercer, née Dana
Lived 1872 – 1960 (aged 87). Martha Mercer, née Dana was an American art collector, philanthropist and socialite.
Martha Mercer, née Dana (1872–1960) was a US art collector and philanthropist.
She was the daughter of Charles Stratton Dana of the Dana family of Boston. She became friends with Isabella Stewart Gardner who arranged for her to have her portrait painted by Anders Zorn in 1899.
She married the artist William Robert Mercer of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, who was the brother of Henry Chapman Mercer. Together they designed and built Aldie Mansion in the Tudor revival style, today owned by the Heritage Conservancy of Bucks County. The couple had twins in 1910 who died within a year. Her husband died in 1939 and Martha split her legacy into three equal parts, forming the Martha Dana Mercer Trust. She gave to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Arnold Arboretum (in the name of her father), and the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston. Dana Mercer gave her portrait by Zorn to the museum in 1928. The museum also has another painting formerly in her collection, Man on Horseback by Gerard ter Borch.
Mercer is buried near her parents in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
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Important facts
People in Martha Mercer, née Dana's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Martha Mercer, née Dana?
US art collector and philanthropist (1872-1960)
When was Martha Mercer, née Dana born?
Martha Mercer, née Dana was born on 21 May 1872.
When did Martha Mercer, née Dana die?
Martha Mercer, née Dana died on 21 February 1960 in Doylestown.
What was Martha Mercer, née Dana's occupation?
Martha Mercer, née Dana was an art collector, philanthropist and socialite.
What nationality was Martha Mercer, née Dana?
Martha Mercer, née Dana was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Martha Mercer, née Dana
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Martha Mercer, née Dana. https://biography.guide/martha-mercer-nee-dana/
MLA: "Martha Mercer, née Dana." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/martha-mercer-nee-dana/.
Chicago: "Martha Mercer, née Dana." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/martha-mercer-nee-dana/.
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