Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt
In costume as "The Electric Light" at a ball on March 26, 1883
Born	Alice Claypoole Gwynne (1845-11-11)November 11, 1845 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died	April 24, 1934(1934-04-24) (aged 88) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Cornelius Vanderbilt II ​ ​ (m. 1867; died 1899)​
Children	Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt William Henry Vanderbilt II Cornelius Vanderbilt III Gertrude Vanderbilt Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt Gladys Moore Vanderbilt
Parent(s)	Abraham Evan Gwynne Rachel Moore Flagg

Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt (born Gwynne; November 11, 1845 – April 24, 1934) was an important member of the famous Vanderbilt family. She was the wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. For over 60 years, she was seen as the main woman in charge of the family.

Alice's Early Life

Alice Claypoole Gwynne was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 11, 1845. Her father was a lawyer named Abraham Evan Gwynne. Her mother was Rachel Moore Flagg. When Alice was ten, her father passed away. Her mother later married Albert Mathews.

Alice came from an old family from Rhode Island. Some of her ancestors were very important people. One was Roger Williams, who founded the State of Rhode Island. Another was Samuel Ward Sr., who was a governor of Rhode Island. Alice loved Newport, a city in Rhode Island, because her family had lived there for a long time.

Marriage and Family

Portrait of Alice Vanderbilt, c. 1895

With her daughter Gertrude in 1895

Alice met Cornelius Vanderbilt II while teaching Sunday school. Cornelius was the oldest son of William Henry Vanderbilt. Alice and Cornelius got married on February 4, 1867, in New York City.

They had seven children together:

• Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt (1869–1874), who passed away when she was young.
• William Henry "Bill" Vanderbilt II (1870–1892), who passed away while studying at Yale University.
• Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III (1873–1942). He married Grace Graham Wilson, but his parents did not approve.
• Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875–1942). She married Harry Payne Whitney. Gertrude was a talented artist who started the Whitney Museum.
• Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877–1915). He was a businessman who passed away on the ship RMS Lusitania.
• Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (1880–1925). He loved horses and riding.
• Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886–1965). She married Count László Széchenyi.

Alice's Later Years

Alice's husband, Cornelius, passed away on September 12, 1899. He left behind a very large fortune. Alice lived for another 35 years. She passed away on April 22, 1934, in her home in Manhattan, New York City.

Her youngest daughter, Gladys, inherited their huge summer home, The Breakers, in Newport. Gladys also received the New York townhouse where Alice lived. Gertrude, another daughter, received a large amount of money from the sale of another family mansion.

Amazing Homes

Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt II and her daughters, Gladys and Gertrude, having tea in the library at The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island (William Bruce Ellis Ranken, 1932)

Alice helped build some truly massive family homes. One was the huge house at 1 West 57th Street in New York City. It was the biggest private home ever built in an American city at that time! She also helped build The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island, which is a famous mansion.

In 1914, Alice was also involved in building the Gwynne Building in Cincinnati, Ohio. This building was important because it was where the company Procter & Gamble first started.

Helping Others

Alice Vanderbilt was very generous and gave money to many good causes. She supported groups like the YMCA, the Salvation Army, and the Red Cross. She also helped churches like Trinity Church and St. Bartholomew's Church.

Alice and her husband donated Vanderbilt Hall to Yale University to honor their oldest son, Bill, who had been a student there. She also gave the beautiful front gates from her former mansion at 1 West 57th Street to be placed in Central Park. In 1903, she donated a building to Newport Hospital to remember her late husband.

Famous Grandchildren

Through her son Alfred, Alice was the grandmother of William Henry Vanderbilt III, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr., and George Washington Vanderbilt III.

Through her youngest son Reginald, Alice was the grandmother of Cathleen Vanderbilt and Gloria Vanderbilt. Gloria became a well-known socialite and fashion designer. Alice was also the great-grandmother of news anchor Anderson Hays Cooper.