The frances mulhall achilles library at the whitney museum of american art is a comprehensive research collection in the field of twentiethcentury and contemporary american art. The bulk of the papers have been scanned, and total 49,453 images. When poor little rich girl gloria vanderbilt mesmerized the. Inside the custody battle for 10yearold heiress gloria.
Gertrude whitney, the great grand daughter of the shipping and railroad tycoon cornelius vanderbilt, married harry payne whitney. Gertrude, a vanderbilt heir and the great aunt of gloria vanderbilt, of whom she was awarded custody by the court, was the founder of the whitney art museum. Her greatgrandfather was the shipping and railroad tycoon commodore vanderbilt. The historic family mansion in watertown, known as the elms, was built for the whitneys in 1710. Whitney the matter of vanderbilt trial was set in motion and on october 1, 1934. She led something of a double life as an artist and as someone expected to fulfill the role of society wife and run multiple houses. The sunwashed former stable in greenwich village where sculptor and art patron gertrude vanderbilt whitney entertained emerging u. Daughter of a dynasty the trials and lost innocence of. Source for information on gloria vanderbilt custody trial.
As a child, she spent her summers at the breakers, the familys summer estate in newport, rhode island, and kept up with her brothers in all their rigorous sporting activities. This was the mansion of famed artist gertrude vanderbilt whitney, who raged a scandolous custody battle over her niece against her sisterinlaw, gloria morgan vanderbilt. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney grew up in the breakers and. Carew, who in hindsight probably shouldnt have, surprisingly let all the press inside his courtroom. At age 10 she became the centre of an highly publicized custody case between her mother and her aunt, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, who had been housing young. The cast iron fence surrounding the park is one of the oldest in new york city. Published september 1st 1978 by doubleday books first published 1978. This excerpt from a new biography, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, by b.
Gertrude vanderbilt whitney cornelius vanderbilt ii also had two daughters besides the four boys we mentiuoned in last weeks installment. It was at this house that the child, known as little gloria. It was gertrude who won custody of then 10yearold gloria in the end. Gloria vanderbilt with her aunt gertrude whitney in long island, 1938. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney was born in new york city. Apr 14, 2020 gertrude vanderbilt was a greatgranddaughter of commodore cornelius vanderbilt, founder of one of americas great fortunes. Planting fields foundation, oyster bay, new york, june 9september 30, 2018.
Her father died when she was a baby, and she spent much of her early childhood in paris. Dressed in a fox fur, hat, and gloves, the 59yearold founder of the whitney museum, accompanied by her lawyer frank crocker, headed. Feb 06, 2018 the littleknown work, by howard gardiner cushing, features gertrude vanderbilt whitney in unconventional clothing and has been turned into 18 framed panels. Jun 09, 2015 gertrude vanderbilt whitney became an artist in spite of her birthright. Whitney, gertrude vanderbilt, 18751942, art patrons publisher garden city, n.
Detail of the ceiling of gertrude vanderbilt whitneys studio sculpted by robert winthrop chanler. Find gertrude vanderbilt whitney by friedman, b h at biblio. Why the custody battle for young gloria vanderbilt riveted. Her paternal aunt gertrude vanderbilt whitney, a sculptor who founded the whitney museum, successfully fought for custody of gloria. Bed room with throne decorations 1 photographic print. The gertrude vanderbilt whitney murals, four murals offered in two lots, east wall reception room a and east wall reception room b, 1914 oil on canvas 6334 x 7414 inches each signed provenance. The gertrude vanderbilt whitney papers measure approximately 36. Series 1 a finding aid to the gertrude vanderbilt whitney.
Gertrude vanderbilt whitney was a true new yorker in every sense of the word. The full version of the article is available only if you follow this link. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney january 9, 1875april 18, 1942 was an american sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder in 1931 of the whitney museum of american art in new york city. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Jun 16, 2016 fireplace in gertrude vanderbilt whitneys studio sculpted by robert winthrop chanler one hundred years later in 2014, the original site of the museum, the whitney studio, was added as a national treasure to the national trust for historic preservations list. Gertrude was a complex and exciting personality of the early 20th century art and culture scene.
Born in old westbury, new york, he was the son of the wealthy and socially prominent harry payne whitney 18721932 and gertrude vanderbilt whitney 18751942. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney papers, 18511975, bulk 18881942. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney who is said to have had a lesbian relationship of her own, who admits to being a closet bohemian and who, after. It was originally built on the personal libraries of the whitney s founder, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, and its first director, juliana force. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney american sculptor britannica. The fireplace was originally painted in vivid polychrome, with red and gold on the licking flames. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney 1936 catalog woman and child. A finding aid to the gertrude vanderbilt whitney papers, 18511975. In 1850 it opened as the park called stuyvesant square, where the sculpture of his ancestor peter stuyvesant now stands. John leboutillier, the greatgrandson of gertrude vanderbilt whitney and a relative of william k. The first hearing was held in front of hundreds of journalists, for judge john f. May 17, 2016 detail of the ceiling of gertrude vanderbilt whitneys studio sculpted by robert winthrop chanler. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney, american sculptor and art patron, founder. American socialite, artist, author, actress, and designer of textiles and.
Wealthy beyond measureher father was the railroad baron cornelius vanderbilt iishe married a man who was equally rich. Friedman, published by doubleday, tells about her long island studio, which the family uses to this day for social. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney january 9, 1875 april 18, 1942 was an american sculptor. Cottenet dance daughter dear dearest dinner esther exhibition feel fifth avenue finally flora friends galleries gertrude and harry gertrude vanderbilt whitney gertrude writes gertrudes girl give gladys gloria gloria vanderbilt goes happy harry payne whitney harrys howard interest james earle fraser. Custody of gloria laura vanderbilt, a minorchief defense lawyer. The whitney family is an american family notable for their business enterprises, social prominence, wealth and philanthropy, founded by john whitney 15921673, who came from london, england to watertown, massachusetts in 1635. It was originally built on the personal libraries of the whitneys founder, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, and its first director, juliana force. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney and albert barnes, patrons of the.
The court decided that the young heiress could spend the. Whitney 18751942 was born into the prominent new york family founded by cornelius vanderbilt. When the headlines broke, 1934 was grimness itself. Sculpture is the catalogue for an exhibition presented at the norton museum of art, west palm beach, florida, january 25april 29, 2018. Gloria and how she got that way the washington post. Robert henri gertrude vanderbilt whitney 1916 artsy.
Gertrude vanderbilt whitney january 9, 1875 april 18, 1942 was an american sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder in 1931 of the whitney museum of american art in new york city. They may be accessed by the bibliography tab at the top of most pages, or via the related topics box in. Born into the prominent vanderbilt family of new york, gloria was thrust into the media spotlight from the moment of her birth. From her early years she was interested in art, and after her marriage in 1896 to harry payne whitney, she began to pursue sculpture seriously, studying in new york and paris. She was a prominent social figure and hostess, who was born into the wealthy vanderbilt family and married into the whitney family. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney grew up in the breakers and became an internationally recognized sculptor and founder of the whitney museum of american art. Encyclopedia britannica complete article on gertrude vanderbilt whitney note. The collection documents the life and work of the art patron and sculptor, especially her promotion of american art and artists, her philanthropy and war relief work, her commissions. Sculpture will travel to the planting fields foundation in oyster bay, n. When poor little rich girl gloria vanderbilt mesmerized. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney became an artist in spite of her birthright. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1.
Collection explore the whitney s collection of over 25,000 works, created by more than 3,500 american artists during the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries. Gertrude vanderbilt was a greatgranddaughter of commodore cornelius vanderbilt, founder of one of americas great fortunes. Whitney museum of american art, gertrude vanderbilt. Explore the whitneys collection of over 25,000 works, created by more than 3,500 american artists during the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries. She is one of the four women featured in the upcoming becoming vanderbilt exhibition. Bed room with throne decorations summary photographs shows the bedroom in the home of mrs. From whitney museum of american art, robert henri, gertrude vanderbilt whitney 1916, oil on canvas, 126. Sculpture is the catalogue for an exhibition presented at the. This centuryold mural was rescued from a whitneys stairwell. Gertrude whitney, the great grand daughter of the shipping and railroad tycoon cornelius vanderbilt, married harry payne whitney, and the family fortunes each of them had inherited allowed them to help found the whitney museum of american art in new york city, and as a result the museum was named after the whitney family name. Unsaid, as well as the corresponding book, the rainbow comes and goes. Tour gertrude vanderbilt whitneys art studio on long island. Any citation of this collection must include the following title designated by the donor. The littleknown work, by howard gardiner cushing, features gertrude vanderbilt whitney in unconventional clothing and has been turned into 18 framed panels.
Gertrude vanderbilt whitney new netherland institute. Out stepped gertrude vanderbilt whitney, thin and unsmiling. She was a prominent social figure and hostess, who was born into the united states vanderbilt family and married into the whitney family. But gertrude whitney opposed itgloria morgan vanderbilt was an unfit mother. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney, reginalds sister, a formidable society woman, a sculptor and the founder of the whitney museum of american art, a woman who conformedon the surfaceto everything expected of american royalty and yet lived a hidden second life as a passionate bohemian. Nndb has added thousands of bibliographies for people, organizations, schools, and general topics, listing more than 50,000 books and 120,000 other kinds of references. Gertrude vanderbilt whitney papers, 18511975, bulk 18881942 this site provides access to the papers of gertrude vanderbilt whitney in the archives of american art that were digitized in 2014. Gertrude vanderbilt whitneys studio opens its doors to. Conner, gertrude vanderbilt whitney childhood and youth, conner, gertrude vanderbilt whitney marriage, conner, gertrude vanderbilt whitney divorce, conner, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, women painters united states biography, divorce, marriage, women painters, united states publisher new york.
Cornelius vanderbilt sonny whitney february 20, 1899 december, 1992 was an american businessman, film producer, writer, philanthropist, polo player, and government official, as well as the owner of a stable of thoroughbred racehorses. She kept over a million pages of diaries and correspondence. Interesting, though, that lesbianism and bisexuality were very much a part of the family outside of gloria. Gertrude vanderbilt whitneys heirs are back on board the. Born in 1875 into the wealthiest family in america, gertrude vanderbilt married harry payne whitney 18721930, ace polo player, winningracehorse owner, heir to millions, and bon vivant, in 1896.
Gertrude vanderbilt whitney and albert barnes, patrons of. He had a younger sister, barbara whitney, and an elder sister, flora payne whitney 18971986. Aug 03, 2019 tenyearold gloria vanderbilt with her aunt, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, outside of court, where whitney fought glorias mother for custody. As a member of both the whitney and vanderbilt families, he inherited a substantial fortune. From her early years she was interested in art, and after her marriage in 1896 to harry payne whitney, she began to pursue sculpture seriously, studying in new york and paris in 1907 she opened a studio in greenwich village. Tenyearold gloria vanderbilt with her aunt, gertrude vanderbilt whitney, outside of court, where whitney fought glorias mother for custody. Gertrude vanderbilt whitneys restored studio opens for. Aug 24, 2011 gertrude vanderbilt whitney, reginalds sister, a formidable society woman, a sculptor and the founder of the whitney museum of american art, a woman who conformedon the surfaceto everything expected of american royalty and yet lived a hidden second life as a passionate bohemian.
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