Edith Rosenbaum facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Edith Rosenbaum Russell
Edith Rosenbaum Russell shortly after her rescue from the Titanic, carrying the toy pig with which she escaped the ship
Born	June 12, 1879 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died	April 4, 1975 (aged 95) London, England, UK
Occupation	Fashion journalist, stylist and buyer
Known for	surviving the sinking of the Titanic

Edith Louise Rosenbaum Russell (born June 12, 1879 – died April 4, 1975) was an American fashion expert. She worked as a buyer, stylist, and writer for Women's Wear Daily. Edith is best known for surviving the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic with a special music box.

This music box was shaped like a pig and made of papier-mâché. It was covered in pigskin and played a tune called "The Maxixe" when its tail was twisted. Edith used this toy pig to help calm scared children in the lifeboat where she escaped. Her amazing story became very famous in newspapers at the time. It was also featured in the popular book A Night to Remember by Walter Lord. Edith Russell was even shown in a British movie based on that book.

Who Was Edith Russell?
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Who Was Edith Russell?

Her Early Life

Edith Louise Rosenbaum was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1879. Her family was wealthy. Her father, Harry Rosenbaum, was important in the clothing business. He made cloaks and suits and invested in real estate in New York.

In 1902, Edith moved to New York with her parents. She went to several good schools, including the Mt. Auburn Young Ladies Institute in Cincinnati. She also attended Misses Shipley's at Bryn Mawr and later Bryn Mawr College.

A Career in Fashion

Edith started her fashion career in 1908. She moved to Paris and worked as a saleswoman for a famous fashion house called Louise Chéruit. Soon after, she joined a fashion magazine called La dernière heure à Paris. She also drew fashion sketches for different companies.

Fashion Journalist and Stylist

In 1910, Edith became a Paris writer for Women's Wear Daily, a new fashion newspaper in New York. She wrote about the latest collections from top designers like Paquin and Poiret. She also became friends with a young designer named Jenny. Edith was one of her first customers.

Edith wrote a daily column about fashion trends, new fabrics, and important events in the French fashion world. She also worked as a buyer for American companies. She helped famous people like actress Ina Claire choose their clothes. This made her one of the first celebrity stylists! She even designed her own clothing line called "Elrose" for a New York store.

In 1911, Edith was in a serious car accident. Her fiancé, Ludwig Loewe, died in the crash. Edith got a concussion but no other major injuries. This event was important because it led to her getting the lucky pig music box.

A War Reporter

Between 1914 and 1919, Edith worked for the main French fashion industry group. She often shared her strong opinions about fashion in New York and Paris. In 1915, she helped with an American Fashion Exhibit in San Francisco.

During World War I, Edith took a break from fashion. She became a journalist for the American Red Cross. She sent news from the war front. This made her one of the first female war correspondents, like Nellie Bly. Edith wrote many letters about her experiences in the trenches with French and British soldiers in 1917. She was even caught in a bombing during a battle.

Dog Lover and Breeder

By 1916, Edith also started a business breeding Pekingese dogs. She showed her dogs across the country. She even bred dogs for famous people like Maurice Chevalier. Her kennels were called Wee Wong Kennels.

Around 1920, Edith changed her last name to "Russell." This was because of strong anti-German feelings in Paris after the war. People with German names faced discrimination in the fashion industry.

Edith was honored for her work in the 1920s. She wrote for magazines in London and Rome. After 1934, she slowly stopped working in the fashion world.

The Titanic Journey

On April 5, 1912, Edith wrote a fashion report from Paris. She wanted to return to New York with her new fashion purchases. She planned to sail on another ship, but her editor asked her to cover more races. So, she changed her plans and boarded the RMS Titanic on April 10. The ship was sailing from Southampton to New York.

Edith had a First Class room, A-11. She also had 19 pieces of luggage! She may have even booked another room just for her bags. Before getting on the ship, she asked about insuring her luggage. But she was told it was not needed because the Titanic was "unsinkable."

The Pig's Lucky Charm

On the night of April 14, the Titanic hit an iceberg. Edith said she locked all her trunks before going on deck. While waiting, she saw her room steward, Robert Wareham. She told him she heard the Titanic would be towed to Halifax. She was worried about her luggage. But the steward told her to "kiss your trunks good-bye."

The steward did go back to Edith's room to get her "mascot." It was the small papier-mâché music box shaped like a pig. Her mother had given it to her after the car accident she survived. In France, pigs were seen as good luck. Edith had promised her mother she would always keep it.

When the steward returned with the pig, Edith went to the boat deck. J. Bruce Ismay, the head of the White Star Line (who owned the Titanic), saw her. He told her to get into a lifeboat. A male passenger helped her into Lifeboat No. 11. A crewman even tossed her toy pig into the boat first, perhaps thinking it was a real pet! Boat 11 was lowered with about 68 to 70 people, including many children. It was very full.

As Boat 11 rowed away, Edith saw many crying children. To calm them, she played her little musical pig. She twisted its tail to play "The Maxixe." One of the children was 10-month-old Frank Aks. Many years later, she met him again and showed him the pig that had entertained him.

Edith later sued the White Star Line because she lost her luggage. It was one of the biggest claims made after the disaster.

Later Years and Legacy

Edith Russell stopped working as a fashion buyer around 1937. But she kept traveling a lot. She was very social and made friends with many famous people. These included the Duke of Windsor and Benito Mussolini. She also stayed close friends with designer Jenny and actor Peter Lawford.

Edith lived in London for many years. In the 1950s, people became very interested in the Titanic again because of new movies and books. Edith became a popular expert on the tragedy. She went to a special showing of the movie Titanic in 1953. She gave interviews and posed for photos with her famous toy pig.

In 1955, historian Walter Lord wrote his best-selling book A Night to Remember, which told Edith's story. She also helped with the 1958 British movie based on the book. She and her lucky pig were shown in the film.

A Titanic Expert

Even when she was older, Edith was a regular guest on TV and radio shows. She was interviewed in France, Germany, and on the BBC. For her first TV interview in 1956, she brought her pig and told their escape story. The pig's music part was broken by then, so she could not play the tune.

In 1963, the Titanic Historical Society was started in the United States. Edith was made an honorary member. She also wrote articles about her Titanic experiences for magazines.

Edith Rosenbaum Russell passed away in London on April 4, 1975, at 95 years old. Many of her things went to her family and friends. Walter Lord, the author, received her famous pig. When Lord died in 2002, the pig was given to the National Maritime Museum in London. The museum also received the slippers Edith wore when she got into Lifeboat 11.

Her Lasting Legacy

In 2001, filmmaker James Cameron explored the Titanic wreck. His team found Edith's cabin, and her dressing table mirror was still standing! Pictures of her room were published in a book called Ghosts of the Abyss. Edith was also shown in the movie that went with the book.

A children's book about Edith and her lucky pig, called Pig on the Titanic by Gary Crew, was published in 2005.

In 2012, for the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, Edith's story became popular again. Her pig and slippers were shown in museum exhibits. The museum even fixed the pig's music box! Now, its tune, "The Maxixe," can be heard again for the first time in over 60 years.

Edith's story was also told in new Titanic books in 2012. One book, The Osborne Titanic Sticker Book, was made for children. In 2014, a digital book for kids called Titanic by Sean Callery also included Edith's story.

Images for kids

Edith Rosenbaum in 1911, the year she began work as a fashion stylist.
A 1922 advertisement for Edith Russell's fashion consulting and importing business.
In her later years, Edith Russell and her toy pig were in demand for TV and radio talk shows.