What if this woman had been a man?

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.