Marion Houghton Grant (née Hepburn; April 24, 1918 – August 1, 1986) was an American historian, writer, and activist. She was the daughter of feminist Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn as well as the sister of actress Katharine Hepburn. Her daughter and granddaughter, Katharine Houghton and Schuyler Grant, are actresses.

Early life

Hepburn (second from left) in a family portrait in 1921

Marion Houghton Hepburn was born on April 24, 1918, in Hartford, Connecticut, as the second daughter and fifth child of the six children of Katharine Martha Houghton and Thomas Naval Hepburn.^[1] She had three older brothers, Thomas Houghton, Richard Houghton, and Robert Houghton Hepburn, and two sisters, Katharine Houghton, and Margaret Houghton Hepburn.^[1] Her sister, Katharine, was a four time Oscar winner movie star, and her cousin, Alice Tully, was a philanthropist.^[2] Hepburn was raised in Hartford, attending private education, and spent time at summer school in Fenwick.^[2] She also love to travelled aboard and spent her time twice during summer at South Carolina plantation along with novelist Julia Peterkin, and specialized in the African-American experience.^[2] After graduated from Oxford School in West Hartford, she went to Bennington College and majoring in creative writing and studied labor, government and sociology.^[2]

Personal life

Hepburn was passionated in social issues, promoting justice, and democracy, but say the main purpose of her life is to getting married.^[2] She meet her idol, Ellsworth Strong Grant, a historian and future mayor of West Hartford who was graduated from Kingswood School and Harvard, during a dance party and later became her girlfriend.^[2][3][4] They were engaged at Hepburn's parent home on February 2, 1939, and married a week after graduated.^[3][2] The couple spent their time in community activity, writing, and history.^[2] They had two sons, John, a writer, and Toby Grant, a student, and a daughter, Katharine Houghton, an actress.^[5][6] She predeceased him to death and Grant remarried to Virginia Tuttle until her death in 2012, and later died in 2013 at the age of 95.^[4] Her son, Toby, died in 2010.^[7]

Career

Hepburn with Arthur Goldschmidt in 1938

Hepburn started her career at the age of 17 by working at the Hull House Chicago and worked for the United Federal Workers of America two years later.^[2] She was the co-founder of the Urban League of Hartford and served as President of the Junior League as well as President of the Women's Association of her church.^[2] She also wrote three books about the history of Hartford, Saybrook, and Fentwick.^[2] In 1971, Hepburn published a book about the influential inhabitants of Fenwick in order to celebrated 100th years anniversary of the founding of the borough.^[2]

Death

Hepburn died in her sleep at her seaside summer residence in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, on August 1, 1986, due to heart attack at the age of 68.^[5][4] Her husband, Ellsworth Strong, stated that she was feeling tired prior to her death.^[6] Her sister, Katharine, rushed to her residence after receiving the news and said that Hepburn was just like her big teddy bear, and has a good nature and like people so much.^[6] A private memorial service was held at St. Mary's Chapel in Old Saybrook on 10 August, followed by a public memorial service at Asylum Hill Congregational Church on the next day which was led by reverent James L. Kidd.^[6] Hepburn was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.^[6] Apart from her husband and Katharine, she was survived by her children's, two brothers, a sister, and two grandchildren.^[5][6]

References