Edith Stuyvesant Gerry
| Edith Stuyvesant Dresser Gerry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Edith Stuyvesant Dresser January 17, 1873 Newport, Rhode Island |
| Died |
December 21, 1958 (aged 85) Providence, Rhode Island |
| Spouse(s) |
George Washington Vanderbilt II (m. 1898; his death 1914) Peter Goelet Gerry (m. 1925; his death 1957) |
| Children | Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt |
| Parent(s) |
George Dresser Susan Fish LeRoy |
| Relatives |
George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (grandson) William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil (grandson) |
Edith Stuyvesant Dresser Gerry (January 17, 1873 - December 21, 1958) was an American philanthropist and wife of George Washington Vanderbilt II.[1]
Biography
She was born on January 17, 1873 as Edith Stuyvesant Dresser in Providence, Rhode Island. She was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant, the first governor of Dutch colonial New York, and also the great-niece of Hamilton Fish. She was orphaned at the age of ten and was raised by her maternal grandmother.
Edith was a compassionate person; many said that one would not have known she was the mistress of the Biltmore Estate. She was very involved with the families who worked on the Biltmore Estate as well as the surrounding community. Edith and her husband, George Vanderbilt, were socially progressive thinkers who played pivotal roles in the betterment of the lives of many people in Western North Carolina.[2]
Some of her initiatives included sponsoring literacy and educational programs, and promoting the learning of crafts through which women might support themselves. On the Estate, she took maternity baskets to women who just given birth to make sure they had everything they needed. Edith also took her daughter Cornelia's old clothing to families with girls who were about the same age.[3]
After her husband's death in March 1914, she continued her work for the community. She became the first woman president of the State Agricultural Society. With this title Edith helped build a new hospital, among numerous other deeds. Later, she decided to honor George Vanderbilt, her husband, by selling 87,000 acres to create the Pisgah National Forest for the public to enjoy.[4]
She died on December 21, 1958 in Providence, Rhode Island.[1]
Marriages
Her first husband was George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914), the owner of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. They were married on 1 June 1898 in Paris. After his death in 1914, she sold the land around the Biltmore Estate to the United States Forest Service. This became part of the Pisgah National Forest. They had one daughter, Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976).
Her second husband, whom she married on October 22, 1925 in London, was Peter Goelet Gerry (1879-1951), United States Senator from Rhode Island.
Legacy
Paul McCartney, in the band Wings, paid homage to her as well as Martha Washington in his 1973 hit "Mrs. Vanderbilt" on the Band on the Run album.
References
- 1 2 "Mrs. Peter G. Gerry". New York Times. December 22, 1958.
- ↑ "Our Story - Biltmore Stories - Edith Vanderbilt." BILTMORE in Asheville, North Carolina, Americas Largest Home and More! Biltmore Association. Web. 08 Nov. 2011.<http://www.biltmore.com/our_story/stories/esv.asp>
- ↑ McKendree, Sue C. "Edith Vanderbilt's Relationship with Estate Families." Learn NC. UNC School of Education. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.<http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/1834>
- ↑ Carley, Rachel, and Rosemary G. Rennicke. A Pictorial Guide to Biltmore Estate. Asheville, NC: Biltmore, 2008. 18-19. Print.
External links
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