Alva Belmont (January 17, 1853 – January 26, 1933), née Alva Erskine Smith, and known as Alva Vanderbilt from 1875 to 1896, was a prominent multi-millionaire American socialite and a major figure in the women's suffrage movement. Known for having an aristocratic manner that antagonized many people, she was also noted for her energy, intelligence, strong opinions, and willingness to challenge convention. She was married first to William Kissam Vanderbilt, with whom she had three children, and secondly to Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont.
Alva was one of six children. Two of her sisters, Alice and Eleanor, both died as children before she was born. Her brother, Murray Forbes Smith, Jr. died in 1857 and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile. Two other sisters, Armide Vogel Smith and Mary Virginia "Jennie" Smith, were her only siblings to survive into adulthood. Jennie first married the brother of Alva's childhood best friend, Consuelo Yznaga, Duchess of Manchester Following a divorce from Fernando Yznaga in 1886, Jennie remarried to William George Tiffany.
Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt II's brother, built Marble House in Newport as a gift for his wife Alva Vanderbilt's 39th birthday.Marble House ... Alva Vanderbilt chose a golden-brown Italian marble for the floors, walls, and grand staircase.
Decorated in the Louis XIV style, Alva Vanderbilt's bedroom featured a throne-like bed and silk wall hangings.Alva Vanderbilt's bedroom ... Alva Vanderbilt made a set of china emblazoned with "Votes for ...
After Stout's death, his heirs sold the property to Alva E. Vanderbilt, a ... Vanderbilt, first husband of Alva Vanderbilt, even went so far as to run the Cliff Walk through a tunnel behind Marble House.
Marble House (1892) gives an intimate look at the life of Alva Vanderbilt and her “temple to the arts” ... Vanderbilt asked architect Hunt to build him the best living accommodations that money could buy ... Vanderbilt, seventh child of William H.
Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, 1877-1964 ... Her mother, Alva Vanderbilt, was desperate for the prestige Consuelo’s marriage into the peerage would bring.
It was inspired by the real life story of Alva Vanderbilt who funded a new Metropolitan Opera House when she was denied a box at the Academy of Music opera house.
Bertha is based on Alva Vanderbilt, who became very involved in the women’s suffrage movement, and George the robber baron Jay Gould...In real life, Vanderbilt divorced her first husband after she married their daughter off to a duke.
1919@ Former Consuelo Vanderbilt, The Duchess of Marlborough... 'My American grandmother, Consuelo Vanderbilt,' he replied ... Even more sensationally, the marriage was annulled a few years later when Alva Vanderbilt admitted she had coerced her daughter.
The Vanderbilt family went from being society outcasts to one of the more prominent ... Alva later divorced William Vanderbilt upon discovering his infidelity and married family friend Oliver Belmont.
PresidentWilliam Howard Taft was a guest at her wedding to financier EdwardStotesbury.Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, 1877-1964 ... Her mother, Alva Vanderbilt, was desperate for the prestige Consuelo’s marriage into the peerage would bring.
Bertha is heavily based on Alva Vanderbilt, the American multi-millionaire socialite and eventual women’s suffrage activist who was known for challenging convention. Coon notes that in real life, Alva ...
Alva Vanderbilt was the inspiration for the character of new money social climber BerthaRussell in the show, showrunner Julian Fellowes has said ...Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell brings to life a fictionalized version of Alva Vanderbilt.
... to avoid social oblivion, offering the Vanderbilts, Morgans and Rockefellers boxes ... Emblematic of it all? Alva Vanderbilt herself, who “led the family in gorgeousness.” ... Alva Vanderbilt would be proud.
A thousand newcomers were at the gates; her strength waned, rituals became relaxed; other queens were in the making,” wrote Crowninshield.Alva Vanderbilt ...The Astors and Vanderbilts barred them from New York society,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Killeen Daily Herald
23 Dec 2023
Killeen Daily Herald
23 Dec 2023