She was a benefactor of North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, built in the early 1950s on 15 acres (61,000 m2) donated by Whitney.

She was also involved with the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Yale University and New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. acquired nine important American and French paintings, as well as $2 million for future acquisitions.

[4] She also made art auction history in 1990 by putting up for sale, by Sotheby's, one of Renoir's most famous paintings, the sun-dappled cafe scene Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre.

After her death, her art collection was sold at Sotheby's in 1999 for a then-record $128.3 million, "the second-highest single-owner auction in history.

[17] She was granted custody of their daughters, along with child support, though by biographers' accounts, James had little to no contact with his children, and eventually married three more times.