A Century of Understanding Consciousness
Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. — William James, "Is Life Worth Living?", 1895
For over 100 years, the Prince family has explored consciousness, healing, and human potential. Today, the Gruben Charitable Foundation transforms that inherited wisdom into action.
The Pioneer: Morton Prince (1854-1929)
Morton Prince, (1854 – 1929) Painting by John Singer Sargent
When medicine only treated symptoms, Morton Prince discovered how the mind directly affects physical health. This Boston neurologist founded the Journal of Abnormal Psychology in 1906 and established Harvard's Psychological Clinic.
His breakthrough came from watching his wife and mother struggle with depression and anxiety that no physical treatment could cure. He championed therapeutic suggestion and explored unconscious processes—ideas that were decades ahead of their time.
The Philosopher: Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914)
Charles Sanders Peirce 1839 – 1914
Another branch of the family tree holds one of America's greatest thinkers — Charles Sanders Peirce. He built groundbreaking theories about how we perceive and make sense of reality. His work laid the foundation for understanding how consciousness shapes our world.
The Network: William James
William James was the link between these strands of family history. James, the father of American psychology, worked alongside Morton Prince in Boston's circle of early mind researchers. James was also a close friend of Charles Sanders Peirce — the two shaped American thought together, and James helped bring Peirce's ideas to the world.
Through James, two family legacies meet: Prince's clinical work on the mind, and Peirce's philosophy of how we know reality.
The Philanthropist: Frederick Henry Prince (1860-1953)
Frederick Henry Prince, (1860-1953)
Frederick built his fortune through bold ideas. He founded a brokerage firm, invested early in railroads, and helped develop the world's first planned industrial park. But giving back was his real passion.
In 1932, Frederick and his wife Abbie bought Marble House in Newport from Alva Vanderbilt. They summered there for more than twenty years. His interest in spirituality and health reflected the family's deep commitment to consciousness and well-being.
The Sanctuary: Gruben
“I walked toward Gruben in the early morning, then did letters, and errands in the village.” —Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher, speaker, writer, and spiritual figure.
The foundation's name honors Gruben, the Swiss valley where Diana experienced her spiritual awakening and where her grandmother's farm still stands. This sanctuary near Gstaad has long inspired writers, thinkers, and philosophers.
Among them was Jiddu Krishnamurti, who visited the Saanen-Gstaad valley annually for 25 years. His daily notes capture Gruben's influence: "I walked toward Gruben in the early morning, then did letters, and errands in the village."
From Consciousness to Community
Diana's vision for the Gruben Charitable Foundation represents the natural evolution of this family tradition—channeling both inherited resources and generations of wisdom into philanthropy that recognizes inner transformation as the foundation for all meaningful change.
When Diana witnessed people in Newport transform from addiction and trauma to serving their communities, she understood what her ancestors discovered through research: healing happens from the inside out.