BiographyEvelyn Fawell Evans was the daughter of Howard S. Evans, whose family resided on Beechwood Boulevard in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Evan’s father, Thomas Evans, established in 1869 one-half of what would become the Macbeth-Evans Glass Company. The dawn of the 20th century saw Macbeth-Evans as the country’s largest producer of glass lamp chimneys, shades, and globes, stemming from operations in Indiana, Ohio, Charleroi, Pa., and Pittsburgh. Building on this success in 1910, Howard and his brother, Thomas R. Evans, co-founded the Diamond Alkali Company, which manufactured soda ash used in glass production. The industriousness and success of Evelyn’s grandfather, father, and uncle positioned the family within a prominent element of Pittsburgh’s social set during the first half of the 20th century.
Evans became known throughout the 20th century for her philanthropy and civic engagement. She served in several positions with the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Red Cross beginning during World War II, including as its secretary, volunteer services director, and ultimately vice chairwoman of the chapter. Evans volunteered in the maternity ward at Allegheny General Hospital, was the director of the Garden Club of Allegheny County, served as a board member of the Federation of Girls Schools of Pittsburgh, and was active within the Calvary Episcopal Church.
