Highly recommend this biography of Edith Rockefeller McCormick by Andrea Friederici Ross. (Southern IL University Press 2020, 2021) She examines Edith’s rollercoaster life in the early 1900’s—when women were considered second-class citizens even if born into a family of incredible wealth and influence. I had no idea how much she contributed to arts and culture of all kinds—and not just in Chicago. Her impact on medicine is eerily relevant today, she and her husband helped create McCormick Memorial Institute for Infectious Diseases and provided underwriting for the Journal of Infectious diseases. What an intellect she had! And she nurtured intellect in others by supporting museums, opera houses and the early careers of the likes of writer James Joyce and psychoanalyst Dr. Carl Jung. BUT what makes this a fast read is the family back-story dogged by male arrogance, severe gender roles, mental illness and Baptist religion. Then there are the SCANDALS—we’re talking free love and a woman following her own counsel (oh, my!) Some details depressing and heart-breaking, others laugh out-loud funny and bizarre. In a relatively short life, Edith achieved and went-through a lot. If she’d been allowed similar privilege as her younger male sibling enjoyed, I‘m sure she would have achieved even more…. if you’ve ever envied the rich and famous, this biography will surely cure you of it. Edith’s was a hot-mess, but she still forged a lot of good.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-edith-mccormick-revealed-kogan-0206-20220202-5wqrbbwbyvc7xiru7k637y2mve-story.html?fbclid=IwAR1xzwQ7XTMzezD3x2GkR6cEq__Sjv8a1zciwsYBwILoX-sZgMW128uNP7E
😄😄 Re: Free love in “Edith.“ Don’t worry, nothing R-rated to offend your delicate sensitivities. Better off skipping bits about the arrogant father! What a hypocritical sexist, conservative jerk of a dad. He did give a lot to non-profits, though, which Edith emulated.
How do I know “Edith’s” author? I met Andrea Ross in the late 1990’s. She was the right-hand staffer for George Raab— Brookfield (IL) Zoo’s Executive Director and long-time world-wide Zoo guru in the animal conservation movement and promotion of naturalized wild animal exhibits. I was consulting with a team of others on the initial plans for Brookfield Zoo’s new “Hamill Family Play Zoo.“ It opened 2001. (A mini-play zoo within the zoo designed to encourage young children’s compassion and interest in nature through hands-on developmentally appropriate play. ) Andrea was a key staffer assigned to coordinate the new feature’s planning. (And I’m betting assigned to keep George in the loop.” So lucky me! I got to know Andrea through a mutual love of animals and children and we’ve kept touch. She‘s a librarian now and does lots with animal rescue. I haven’t asked her if she’s working on a new book. With “Edith“ paperback release, she’s been doing a lot of promotion work In the Chicago area. Sounds like she’s enjoying it.
Oh, and during Andrea’s time at Brookfield Zoo she wrote her book “Let the Lions Roar: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo.” ( Chicago Zoological Society, 1997.) And, of course, in that book she wrote a bit about Edith Roosevelt McCormick since Edith donated land and $$ for the founding of the zoo. However, unlike her hands-on approach to opera houses she founded, Edith was never “hands-on” with the Zoo‘s development. No muck-raking for Edith, she left that got the tabloids of her time. 😄 I’m not sure if Andrea became enamored with Edith during her research on Brookfield Zoo or not. But it’s likely.
On a related note (pun intendEd) Andrea’s brother (Peter Friederici—I think) also has been published. He wrote “Suburban Wilds,” a good while ago. it was good non-fiction, but I haven’t kept up to see if he wrote subsequent books. So little time, so much to read.
Don‘t you just love how one thing leads to
another in surprising ways! Kind of similar to you editing “To Hell with the Lid Off.” I haven’t gotten around to reading that, but will soon. 🪶
I want to read this one, too!...How do you know author? Free love? Can you warn us in advance with PAGES TO AVOID?
Full disclosure: Author is a long time friend, but please don’t hold that against her.