[2] She grew up on her parents' Nebraska farm surrounded by her brothers, then at the age of 12, she was sent to a girls' boarding school.

[5] In 1912, they bought property in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where they built a sprawling mansion and estate they called Juniper Hill.

[7][8] Gertrude Whittall donated Juniper Hill to the Masonic Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for use as a hospital.

She funded a foundation to support her donations and public concerts, as well as the construction of the Library's Whittall Pavilion.

[4] In 1950, she created the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund to support readings, lectures, and other events at the Library.