A Century of Understanding Consciousness

The deepest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."
—William James

For over 100 years, the Prince family has explored the deepest questions about consciousness, healing, and human potential. Today, the Gruben Charitable Foundation transforms that inherited wisdom into action.

The Pioneer: Morton Prince (1854-1929)

In the early 1900s, when medicine focused only on symptoms, Morton Prince revolutionized healing by discovering how the mind directly affects physical health. This pioneering Boston neurologist founded the Journal of Abnormal Psychology in 1906 and established Harvard's Psychological Clinic.

Morton's breakthrough came from personal experience - watching his wife and mother struggle with depression and anxiety that no physical treatment could cure. He championed therapeutic suggestion and explored how unconscious processes affect physical health, ideas that were decades ahead of their time.

The Philosopher: Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914)

Morton's exploration of consciousness connected with one of America's greatest minds - Charles Sanders Peirce, another of Diana's relatives and one of our most influential philosophers. Peirce developed groundbreaking theories about how we perceive and interpret reality, laying the foundation for understanding how consciousness shapes our world.

The Bridge: William James and the Network of Consciousness

Morton collaborated closely with William James, the father of American psychology, who was a dear friend of Charles Sanders Peirce. This remarkable network of thinkers, connected by both family ties and deep friendship, devoted their lives to understanding consciousness, reality, and human potential.

James explored the varieties of religious experience and the practical applications of consciousness studies. Morton bridged these philosophical insights with clinical practice, demonstrating how consciousness directly affects physical health.

The Philanthropist: Frederick Henry Prince (1859-1953)

Frederick Henry Prince built his fortune through innovation - founding a successful brokerage firm, investing early in railroads, and developing the world's first planned urban industrial park. But his true passion was giving back.

Frederick and his wife Abbie became devoted Newport residents, living at The Marble House until his passing in 1953. His interest in spirituality and health reflected the family's deep commitment to understanding consciousness and well-being.

The Sanctuary: Gruben

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 profound influence: "I walked toward Gruben in the early morning, then did letters, and errands in the village."

From Consciousness to Community

Over a century later, Diana's vision for the Gruben Charitable Foundation represents the natural evolution of this family tradition - channeling both inherited resources and generations of wisdom about consciousness 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 had discovered through research: healing happens from the inside out.