Carrie Estelle Betzold was born in Philadelphia on August 2, 1875. She and her German immigrant parents moved to Los Angeles in 1890. Edward Laurence Doheny was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on August 10, 1856 to poor Irish immigrants. He left home at a young age to prospect for gold and silver. Together with his partner Charles Canfield he located oil in Los Angeles and brought in the first commercially successful oil well in Mexico. Early in 1900, Carrie Estelle and Edward Laurence met; they were married August 22, 1900. Though Carrie Estelle never bore any children, Edward had a seven-year-old son from his first marriage named Ned. In addition to instructing Carrie Estelle in his business, Edward also guided her in an understanding of their wealth as a power to do good works. He had already established a pattern of liberal giving for charitable and educational purposes. Gradually, Carrie Estelle took over much of the work of investigating appeals and allocating gifts. Their home was located in the parish of St. Vincent de Paul; the Dohenys developed a strong affiliation to the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission), and supported their ministries in education and missions. The affiliated order of Sisters, the Daughters of Charity, also received the Dohenys’ special interest. The impact on the Dohenys of St. Vincent’s teachings of loving the poor is evidenced by their great generosity to many Southern California organizations serving the unfortunate. The Dohenys built St. Vincent’s Church on the corners of West Adams and Figueroa, as a gift to the Archdiocese. Characteristic of the Dohenys they were involved in all stages of design, from selecting the architect to personally selecting many of the contents. The first Mass was celebrated on April 25, 1925. Soon after, Pope Pius XI conferred upon them the title of Knight and Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The successes of the oil business and the satisfaction in their charitable work were tempered by a congressional investigation of the leasing of naval oil reserves in 1922. The trials, which began in 1923, lasted through 1930 with Mr. Doheny’s acquittal. They led a quiet life until Edward died September 8, 1935. During this final period of the Dohenys’ marriage, Reverend William G. Ward was assigned as their chaplain. He remained one of Mrs. Doheny’s chief advisors throughout the rest of her life. He was instrumental in the formation and design of The Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation and many other charitable pursuits of Mrs. Doheny. After Mr. Doheny died, Carrie Estelle began to dispose of some of their properties and other time consuming holdings, but she did not decrease the scope of her charitable work. In early 1939, Carrie Estelle was elevated to the rank of Papal Countess by Pope Pius XII. On August 2, 1944, her 69th birthday, Carrie Estelle suffered a hemorrhage of the left eye while kneeling for Mass. Soon after, her right eye began to show signs of glaucoma. As she studied about the disease, she discovered it to be a widespread affliction with no known cure. She also learned that there was no eye bank or optical research facility in Los Angeles. In 1947, she founded the Estelle Doheny Eye Foundation, with the purpose of “the conservation, improvement and restoration” of eyesight. In her later years, Carrie Estelle made provision for the future of several of her charitable endeavors. She established endowment trusts for St. Vincent’s Church, the Doheny Memorial Library, and the Vincentian Fathers House of Studies. On June 17, 1949, she created the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation. It was her desire that the Foundation would be continuous, and that it would further provide for the charities close to her heart after she was gone. Carrie Estelle Doheny died on October 30, 1958. Mrs. Doheny left a legacy of many dimensions. Churches, chapels, hospital wings and other buildings still stand which bear the Doheny name. Trusts continue to relieve suffering, further education, advance medical research and evangelize. The instruction to be found in studying her character and spirituality are equally strong. She exercised humility in giving; in doing so she glorified God, not herself. She showed unselfish devotion to those whom she loved. Carrie Estelle Doheny found joy in serving God with her whole heart. ©2005 Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation