Founder and benefactor of the Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall

Dotha Bushnell Hillyer was the youngest daughter of the Reverend Horace Bushnell and Mary Apthorpe. Together with husband, philanthropist banker Appleton Robbins Hillyer, she sought to memorialize her father's brilliance and commitment to public service by constructing The Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall.

Dotha chose to honor her father by providing the citizens of Hartford with a venue that would encourage and inspire the appreciation of music, art, science and foster other benevolent activities. In 1930, Dotha Bushnell Hillyer achieved her dream and created a living memorial to her father. In doing so, she also created a legendary place to stage meaningful celebrations of the arts and the community. Since its grand opening, over 25 million patrons have enjoyed Hartford 's beautiful and stately Bushnell Theater.

In addition to providing the city of Hartford with the Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall, Dotha and her husband were also the principal benefactors of the Science Museum in West Hartford and the original YMCA which then became Hillyer College and later, the University of Hartford . Ultimately, there was very little of the fabric of Hartford that remained untouched by the generous nature and civic mindedness of Dotha Bushnell Hillyer.