Mary Cadwalader Rawle Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Cadwalader Rawle Jones
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Portrait of Mary by William Oliver Stone, 1868
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| Born | December 12, 1850 |
| Died | September 22, 1935 (aged 84) London, England
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| Spouse(s) |
Frederic Rhinelander Jones
(m. 1870; div. 1896) |
| Children | Beatrix Cadwalader Jones |
| Relatives | Edith Wharton (sister-in-law) |
Mary Cadwalader Rawle Jones (born December 12, 1850 – died September 22, 1935) was an American writer. She was also a well-known person in society during the Gilded Age. She was famous for hosting parties where artists and writers met.
Contents
Growing Up: Mary's Early Life
Mary, who was often called Minnie, was born on December 12, 1850. Her family home, Powel House, was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were William Henry Rawle and Mary Binney Rawle. Both came from important old families in Philadelphia.
Mary had a younger brother, but he sadly died young. Her mother also passed away around the same time. Her father was a well-known lawyer in Philadelphia. He worked at a firm started by her great-grandfather. Mary had a very good relationship with her father. When she was 18, her father married again.
Her Family's History
Mary's family had many important people in it. Her great-grandfather, William Rawle, was a U.S. District Attorney. He helped start the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He also worked to end slavery.
Her mother's father was John Cadwalader. He was a U.S. Representative and a Federal Judge. Her mother's grandfather, Horace Binney, was also a U.S. Representative. He was known for his speeches.
Mary's Social Life in New York
Mary was a very important person in New York society. In 1892, she and her daughter were listed in "The Four Hundred". This was a list of New York's most important families. It was published in The New York Times. The list was named after the number of people who could fit in Mrs. Astor's ballroom.
Mary was known for her special gatherings at her New York home. These were called "salons." She invited famous authors and artists to these parties. Guests included sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and painter John Singer Sargent. She also entertained writers like Francis Marion Crawford and Henry Adams. Mary was known for having a broader view of the world than many women of her time.
Mary's Personal Life
On March 24, 1870, Mary married Frederic Rhinelander Jones. He was often called "Freddy." They were married in New York City. Freddy's father was a joint owner of Chemical Bank. He was also important in New York real estate.
Freddy's younger sister was the famous writer Edith Wharton. Edith won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel The Age of Innocence. Mary and Freddy lived at 21 East 11th Street. Mary lived in this house for 50 years.
Her Daughter, Beatrix
Mary and Freddy had one child:
- Beatrix Cadwalader Jones (1872–1959) became a famous landscape architect. In 1913, Beatrix married Dr. Max Farrand. He was a historian at Stanford University and Yale University. Max later became the first director of the Huntington Library.
Mary and Freddy started living apart in 1891. They divorced in 1896. After her divorce, Mary was known as Mrs. Cadwalader Jones. Even after their divorce, Mary remained good friends with Freddy's sister, Edith Wharton.
Later Years and Passing
Mary passed away on September 22, 1935, in London, England. She was on her way back to New York City. She had spent the summer at Edith Wharton's home in France. Edith helped arrange Mary's funeral. Mary was buried in England.
Helping Others: Mary's Philanthropy
Mary was a volunteer at the New York City Hospital School. She later became the leader of the advisory board for the Nursing School there. She helped guide the school for nurses.
Mary's Lasting Legacy
Mary and Freddy had a summer home called the Reef Point Estate. It was in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island. In 1917, Mary gave Reef Point to her daughter, Beatrix. After Mary died in 1935, Beatrix and her husband turned Reef Point into a special center. It was used for studying plants and gardening.
Mary's Published Books
- A Book About Fans; The History Of Fans and Fan-Painting (with M. A. Flory), Macmillan & Co., New York, 1895.
- European Travel for Women: Notes and Suggestions, The Macmillan Company, New York, 1900.
- Lantern Slides, Merrymount Press, Boston, 1937.
