MAYO HAYES O'DONNELL LIBRARY
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Mary Romie Jacks

Picture
Mary Romie Jacks was born on November 4, 1869, and attended Mills Seminary in 1883 at the age of thirteen. Mary also studied at the University of the Pacific in San Jose, prior to her entry into Mills College in 1884. As postgraduate work, Mary pursued four more years of music study in Boston. Her sister Lee joined Mary in Boston and they took business courses together. Mary married Myron Isaac Thomas in San Francisco in October 1914. They lived in her father’s house on Van Buren Street in Monterey when they were first married, and Myron was employed by the David Jacks Corporation from 1911 to 1916. Myron was also a rancher and lumberman with extensive timber and ranch holdings in Monterey and Mendocino counties and in Vermont. Mary raised Myron’s three sons from his first marriage.

Like her sister Lee, Mary followed an active career in the family business:  “They served as administrative officers, including terms as president of the family owned corporation. They both handled their business affairs competently” (Mills Quarterly August, 1987).

Because of her commitment to the betterment of education, Mary gave generously to several educational institutions. “Through her residual trusts, Mills College received, without restrictions, a total of some $2.5 million, approximately $1.3 million in 1986 and roughly $53,000 annually between 1962 and 1985” ibid.
 
Mary and her sister Margaret purchased the Pacific Building in Monterey and the Stage Coach Inn near Soledad and donated them to California together with funds for their maintenance. Funding for the Monterey Sports Center was initiated by a donation of 4.5 million dollars which was donated by the Mary Jacks Thomas Trust Fund dating back to 1955. She was also responsible for donating the Jacks Ballpark and Jacks Peak Park. After she died, her sister Margaret took the “residual interest” from Mary’s $3 million estate and donated it to the city of Monterey.
The Jacks family values of religious, educational, social, economic and ethical practices that benefit the community leave a legacy unmatched by other wealthy California families.

Mary and Myron were residing in the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Francisco when Myron died. He was buried in the Thomas family plot in Bristol, Vermont. Mary died on May 11, 1955, and is buried in the Cypress Lawn Cemetery in San Francisco.

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  • Home
  • Picture File Collection
    • Monterey Peninsula
    • Adjacent Areas of Monterey County
    • Historic Figure Portrait Gallery
    • Further Afield
  • Laura Bride Powers
  • Colonel Roger Fitch
    • 11th Cavalry Commandants Gallery
    • Colonel Roger Fitch Memorial
  • Mayo Hayes O'Donnell
    • MHAA Tribute to Mayo
    • Monterey Peninsula Diary
    • Mayo's Life in Photos
    • Mr. William O'Donnell's Obituary
    • Auntie Mayo's Old Adobe House
    • History of Monterey by Mayo Hayes O'Donnell
  • Amelie Elkinton
    • The Amelie Elkinton Collection
    • Vistas and Street Scenes
    • Historic Buildings
    • Post Cards and Calendar Pages
    • Historic Figure Portrait Gallery
    • Del Monte Properties Advertising Photos
    • Monterey Fishing Industry
    • Newspaper and Magazine Clippings
    • Misc Artifacts
    • Negatives
  • Jacks Family
    • David Jacks
    • Mary Christina Jacks
    • Janet Jacks
    • Will Jacks
    • Margaret Jacks
    • Lee Jacks Page
    • Romie Jacks
    • Vida Jacks
    • Mary Romie Jacks
    • Christina Jack
    • The Hoover Connection
    • David Jacks - Land Baron
    • The Kennth Jack Library
  • Book Holdings
  • Bios, Archives, & Periodicals
    • MHOD Resident Files >
      • Available Biographical Information
      • Adobes
      • Historic Houses
    • The Anthony Family Collection >
      • The Anthony Family Ancestral Gallery
      • J. C. Anthony
      • J. C. Anthony, Jr.
      • Edna Joy Anthony
      • Edith Anne Anthony
      • Harold MacLean (Joy's Husband)
      • Schools Days
      • Picnics and Excursions
      • Buildings and Construction Projects
      • Stereopticon Images
    • The Hellam Collection >
      • Hellam Photo Collection
      • "The Hellams of Monterey" Brochure
      • Transcription of an Oral History of the Monterey Police Court
    • Wilford Rensselar Holman - Holman's Department Store
    • Olive Isbell - First "American" Teacher in California
    • Evelyn Diaz Hinckley
    • The Minnie Coyle Collection >
      • Mayor Minnie Coyle Commemorative Brochure
    • The Wayne Edwards Collection >
      • World War I Era Photos
      • Wayne Edwards Letters
    • 100 Story Project >
      • 100 Story Project - Agricultural History
      • 100 Story Project - Bay and Marine Ecosystem
      • 100 Story Project - Maritime History
      • 100 Story Project - Monterey Peninsula History
      • 100 Story Project - Art
      • 100 Story Project - Music and Music History
      • 100 Story Project - Food and Wine
      • 100 Story Project - Monterey Potpourri of Stories
    • Lists and Misc
    • Periodicals >
      • Monterey County Archaeological Society Quarterly
      • The Pacific Historian
      • Noticias del Puerto de Monterey
    • Doud House Archive >
      • Artists Biographical Files
      • Poster Collection >
        • Adobe Tour Posters & Programs
        • Jo Mora Posters
        • Misc Posters
        • Poster Artists
  • Postcards
  • History Links
  • Contact