D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A H O R T I C U LT U R A L S O C I E T Y O F N E W YO R K ’ S G R E E N B E A N B A S H
Allison Strong with Alexander
Astor’s father) and Willie K. Vanderbilt, and their ilk. The two women were known among their male admirers as “the bachelors.” Presumably, it was also known that they were mutually connubial—or, more explicitly, lovers. When Anne came into the fold, evidently per the passion of Marbury, the duo became what some referred to as the “Versailles triumvirate”—a very cool trio in their day. The choice of words was apt and not accidental. All three commanded respect in a man’s world. Bessie Marbury changed Anne Morgan’s life. It may well have annoyed her father 40 QUEST
Cherie Alcoff with Paige Betz and Jay
Brooke Ooten with Lula and Sarah Jane
that his “beard” was taken from him, although he was always a gentleman with his daughter. (She would demonstrate in her life that she had a lot of her father’s wits and strengths, as well as a strong sense of what’s fair.) Marbury described Anne at the time of meeting as “young for her age” and “not allowed to grow up.” She encouraged the 27-year-old woman, who lived spinster-like under her father’s roof, to defy him and do what she wanted. Marbury described the young Anne: “Her mind was ready for the spark plugs to be adjusted.” It was Marbury who would do the adjusting, and who raised
Victoria Hudson with Allegra and Honor
Lesley Dryden and Erin Dere
Anne’s social consciousness. In 1903, The Colony Club was founded as a women-only private club by Florence Harriman (a.k.a. Mrs. J. Borden Harriman). It was the first club established by and for women only, as modeled on similar clubs for men. The first clubhouse, which was designed by Stanford White of McKim, Mead, and White, was located on 120 Madison Avenue, between 30th and 31st streets. White’s creation was in the Federal Revival style with unusual brickwork done in a diaper pattern on its façade. The women organizing it included Anne Morgan and Bessie Marbury, and
Mary Van Pelt
they raised $500,000 (which is comparable to $50 million in today’s dollars) for the project. White also did something that recommends him as a contributor to the Feminist Movement: he hired a woman to do the interiors: Elsie de Wolfe. The politics that probably led to that decision is apparent in retrospect. Yet, White was also a man responsive to these “strong” women (particularly Marbury), who had demonstrated their political expertise and prowess. The project indemnified de Wolfe’s burgeoning career as an interior decorator and a trailblazer for women. Although there were other
PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N
Kim Vinnakota, Annie Pell and Norris Daniels