Eliza and Louisa: The Schuyler Family's Legacy of Helping Children

Public service was a tradition in the Schuyler family, and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton passed that tradition on to her great-granddaughter, Louisa. Eliza lived a long life, and she and Louisa spent time together at Eliza’s home.

Eliza died when Louisa was about 17 and letters in the collection at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York reference the family visiting her.

Louisa likely heard stories of Eliza’s childhood at Schuyler Mansion. In the early 20th century, Louisa and her sister Georgina helped save the Schuyler Mansion as a historic site. They passed along many of the family’s items, which remain part of the Mansion’s collection to this day.

The link between Eliza and her greatgranddaughter Louisa lives on: “the orphanage” founded by Eliza in 1806 (and referenced in the musical Hamilton) still exists today as Graham Windham. Today, the organization is a Schuyler Center partner: Both organizations advocate for children and families, especially those impacted by poverty and the child welfare system.

The Schuyler women left a strong legacy of advocating for children. It’s remarkable that both Eliza and Louisa founded organizations that continue to carry out that mission today.