Alice Lee (civic leader)

Last updated
Photograph of Alice Lee Alice Lee.jpg
Photograph of Alice Lee
Photograph of Westport Inn in Westport, New York founded by Alice Lee Lake Champlain, Westport, N.Y.- Westport Inn LCCN2003674966.tif
Photograph of Westport Inn in Westport, New York founded by Alice Lee

Alice Lee was born on May 27, 1853, in Westport, Essex County, New York, and died on February 18, 1943, in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, living approximately 89 years. As one of the most influential figures of the Social Movement, she had a same sex partner, Katherine Teats, who died in 1952. They were both aspects of the social environment by hosting two U.S. presidents and their wives at their San Diego, California, residence. Lee and Teats are, according to the San Diego Historical Resource Board, "one of the first documented domestic partnerships in San Diego," being documented living together in various Census records; in the 1930 Census, Lee was the Head of Household and Teats was Partner (and not Lodger while often used in such cases). Together they owned various real estate properties in San Diego, had an active civic and social life, and were accepted as a couple. [1]

Contents

Lee is viewed as a “Civic Leader in San Diego Union, the Ticonderoga Sentinel, the Boston Globe, and Women of the West: A Series of Biographical Sketches of Living Eminent Women in the Eleven Western States of the United States of America”. [2]

Lee died on February 18, 1943, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she was spending the winter, and is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Westport. [1] [3]

Early life and education

Alice Lee was born on May 27, 1853, in Westport, New York, the daughter of Colonel Francis L. Lee (1823-1886) and Sarah Mary Anne Wilson. [3] She was the second cousin of Theodore Roosevelt's wife, Alice Hathaway Lee. [4]

Leed continued her education in Boston, Massachusetts, where the family spent the winters while growing up. [3]

Mid Adulthood

In 1887, at age 34, Alice Lee purchased Marvin House (John Halstead’s original pub) in Westport, New York, transforming it into a posh hotel. Marvin House became the foundation for Westport Inn. It was open from June through October but was usually just a summer getaway for tourists. She removed bordering properties so that she could add new attractions to this hotel. Westport Inn consisted of additional "cottages", a boathouse, gardens, tennis and croquet courts, a 6-hole Golf course and the annex (located on the other side of Main Street). Alice Lee's brother, Thomas Lee, built the pipes to bring water from Mountain Spring down to the hotel which later became the town water supply. He also bottled the water to sell it. [5] Lee sold the property to Harry P. Smith in the early 1900s. [3] The Westport Inn was demolished in 1966, 80 years after it was built. [3]

Westport Library that Alice Lee helped fund Westport Library, Westport, NY.jpg
Westport Library that Alice Lee helped fund

Lee helped fund-raising for both the Westport Library (1888) and the Cutting Memorial Hall addition (1907). [5] Cutting Memorial Hall became a social center for the people of Westport, New York. Westport Library remains in its original structure due to restrictions that granted it establishment in the first place. [5]

Late Adulthood

In 1902 Lee moved to San Diego to find a better climate for her health problems. When she first moved to San Diego she met the Marston family, who were already involved in the Progressive movement. Lee was a supporter of the Progressive movement, and other than Theodore Roosevelt, she was friends with Florence Nightingale, Ralph Waldo Emerson and the family of Amos Bronson Alcott. [1] Lee joined the movement through the Marston family and through Theodore Roosevelt’s role in the Progressive Party. She fought for social and political reform. She encouraged women to vote by campaigning for Franklin Roosevel t in 1932. [4] [3] She represented the California Progressive Party at the National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois after they noticed her contributions. [1] By campaigning for Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 she would help women's suffrage and increase women's political rights. [1] [2] [6] [7] [8]

In San Diego Lee was a member of First Unitarian Church, Wednesday Club, Civic Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and other groups for cultural and civic development. [4]

She was also President of the San Diego Museum, the Balboa Park Auditorium Association, and the Balboa Park Commission. She was Honorary Director of the Women's Civic Center and Director of the Natural History Museum. [4]

She founded the Open Forum, a group that was devoted to discuss social, political, and international issues. In 1935 the Open Forum was "oldest continuous non-legislative forum of free public discussion in the United States" and it closed in the 1970s. [4]

She led the "Save the Beaches" campaign whose purpose was to open to public beaches in Southern California (especially San Diego). This campaign was against oil companies who had taken control of said beaches. Lee was also instrumental in developing the public playground system. [1] [9] The public playground system kept kids from developing bad habits and instead gave them somewhere to socialize in a healthy manner. [10]

Personal life & LGBTQ+ Significance

Lee and her partner Katherine Teats, shared a home on Seventh Avenue in San Diego from 1902 till Alice's death in 1943, when Katherine continued in their home by herself. Katherine's grand niece, according to San Diego Magazine, said, "the family lore considered the pair to be lesbians." [11]

Together, they lived in the main house of the residence and rented the other two homes on the property. They hosted accuatences like the wife of Grover Cleveland, Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston, and Theodore Roosevelt's, and Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt whom they were friends with. Because of these interactions they were also continuous guests at the White House. Theodore Roosevelt and his wife Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt, and Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston were often guests at Lee's San Diego home at 7th Ave. [1]

In 1905 they commissioned Hazel Wood Waterman, with the supervision of Irving Gill, to build three residences in San Diego, Alice Lee Residence at 3574 7th Ave, Katherine Teats Cottage at 3560 7th Ave and Alice Lee Cottage at 3578 7th Ave. The compound shared a garden designed by botanist and landscape architect Kate Sessions. Lee and Teats lived in the main house and used the other two for rentals. Teats continued to live at Teats Cottage, a Prairie-style house which Lee granted to her in 1906, until she died in 1952. [1] Their residences are now labeled as historical landmarks. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Roosevelt</span> President of the United States from 1901 to 1909

Theodore Roosevelt Jr., often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He previously served as the 25th vice president under President William McKinley from March to September 1901 and as the 33rd governor of New York from 1899 to 1900. Assuming the presidency after McKinley's assassination, Roosevelt emerged as a leader of the Republican Party and became a driving force for anti-trust and Progressive policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Addams</span> American activist, sociologist and writer (1860–1935)

Laura Jane Addams was an American settlement activist, reformer, social worker, sociologist, public administrator, philosopher, and author. She was an important leader in the history of social work and women's suffrage in the United States. Addams co-founded Chicago's Hull House, one of America's most famous settlement houses, providing extensive social services to poor, largely immigrant families. In 1910, Addams was awarded an honorary master of arts degree from Yale University, becoming the first woman to receive an honorary degree from the school. In 1920, she was a co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edith Roosevelt</span> First Lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909

Edith Kermit Roosevelt was the second wife of President Theodore Roosevelt and the first lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909. She also was the second lady of the United States prior to that in 1901. Roosevelt was the first First Lady to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary. Her tenure resulted in the creation of an official staff and her formal dinners and ceremonial processions served to elevate the position of First Lady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Era</span> Era of US history between 1896 and 1917

The Progressive Era (1896–1917) was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States focused on defeating corruption, monopoly, waste, and inefficiency. The main themes ended during American involvement in World War I (1917–1918) while the waste and efficiency elements continued into the 1920s. Progressives sought to address the problems caused by rapid industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and political corruption; and by the enormous concentration of industrial ownership in monopolies. They were alarmed by the spread of slums, poverty, and the exploitation of labor. Multiple overlapping progressive movements fought perceived social, political and economic ills by advancing democracy, scientific methods, professionalism and efficiency; regulating businesses, protecting the natural environment, and improving working conditions in factories and living conditions of the urban poor. Spreading the message of reform through mass-circulation newspapers and magazines by "probing the dark corners of American life" were investigative journalists known as "muckrakers". The main advocates of progressivism were often middle-class social reformers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Roosevelt Longworth</span> American writer and socialite (1884–1980)

Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth was an American writer and socialite. She was the eldest child of U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt and his only child with his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt. Longworth led an unconventional and controversial life. Her marriage to Representative Nicholas Longworth III, a Republican Party leader and 38th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was shaky, and her only child, Paulina, was from her affair with Senator William Borah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagamore Hill</span> National Historic Site of the United States

Sagamore Hill was the home of the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, from 1885 until his death in 1919. It is located in Cove Neck, New York, near Oyster Bay on the North Shore of Long Island, 25 miles (40 km) east of Manhattan. It is now the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, which includes the Theodore Roosevelt Museum in a later building on the grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt</span> American socialite and the first wife of Theodore Roosevelt (1861–1984)

Alice Hathaway Roosevelt was an American socialite and the first wife of President Theodore Roosevelt. Two days after giving birth to their only child, she died from undiagnosed Bright's disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving Gill</span> American architect

Irving John Gill, was an American architect, known professionally as Irving J. Gill. He did most of his work in Southern California, especially in San Diego and Los Angeles. He is considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. Twelve of his buildings throughout Southern California are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many others are designated as historic by local governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Party (United States, 1912–1920)</span> American third party founded by Theodore Roosevelt

The Progressive Party was a third party in the United States formed in 1912 by former president Theodore Roosevelt after he lost the presidential nomination of the Republican Party to his former protégé turned rival, incumbent president William Howard Taft. The new party was known for taking advanced positions on progressive reforms and attracting leading national reformers. The party was also ideologically deeply connected with America's radical-liberal tradition.

The Progressive Party was a political party created as a vehicle for Robert M. La Follette, Sr. to run for president in the 1924 election. It did not run candidates for other offices, and it disappeared after the election. The party advocated progressive positions such as government ownership of railroads and electric utilities, cheap credit for farmers, the outlawing of child labor, stronger laws to help labor unions, more protection of civil liberties, an end to American imperialism in Latin America, and a referendum before any president could lead the nation into war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Browning Scripps</span> American journalist, philanthropist

Ellen Browning Scripps was an American journalist and philanthropist who was the founding donor of several major institutions in Southern California. She and her half-brother E. W. Scripps created the E. W. Scripps Company, America's largest chain of newspapers and patron of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, linking Midwestern industrial cities with booming towns in the West. By the 1920s, Ellen Browning Scripps was worth an estimated $30 million, most of which she gave away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamie Roosevelt</span> Elder sister of Theodore Roosevelt (1855–1931)

Anna Roosevelt Cowles was the older sister of United States President Theodore Roosevelt and an aunt of Eleanor Roosevelt. Her childhood nickname was Bamie, a derivative of bambina, but as an adult, her family began calling her Bye because of her tremendous on-the-go energy. Throughout the life of her brother, Theodore, she remained a constant source of emotional support and practical advice. On the death in childbirth of her sister-in-law, Alice Hathaway Lee, Bamie assumed parental responsibility for T.R.'s daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt, during her early years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Sessions</span> American botanist and landscape architect

Katherine Olivia Sessions was an American botanist, horticulturalist, and landscape architect closely associated with San Diego, California, and known as the "Mother of Balboa Park."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Federation of Women's Clubs</span>

The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of over 3,000 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Many of its activities and service projects are done independently by local clubs through their communities or GFWC's national partnerships. GFWC maintains nearly 70,000 members throughout the United States and internationally. GFWC remains one of the world's largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational, women's volunteer service organizations. The GFWC headquarters is located in Washington, D.C.

Theodore Roosevelt spent his first summer in Oyster Bay with his family in 1874. Through the ensuing years as he rose to power, Oyster Bay would frequently serve as backdrop and stage on which many of his ambitions were realized. Several places connected to Theodore Roosevelt in his lifetime remain, while others have been lost. A number of efforts to memorialize Roosevelt in Oyster Bay have been made since his death in 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazel Wood Waterman</span> American architect

Hazel Wood Waterman (1865–1948) was an early 20th century American architect working in an Arts and Crafts—inspired style in southern California. She undertook the first major renovation of Estudillo House, which is one of the oldest surviving examples of Spanish architecture in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Lyon White</span> American activist

Laura Lyon White was an American activist, best known for founding the California Club, working to preserve groves of redwoods in California, and promoting the City Beautiful movement. She wrote several pieces for the Overland Monthly in the later years of the 19th-century and was an ardent suffragist.

Alice Lee is the name of:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Reed Balentine</span> American suffragist

Katherine Reed Balentine was an American suffragist and the founder of The Yellow Ribbon, a suffrage magazine.

Louise Fleur Meyers Schlesinger Spizizen was an American composer, critic, harpsichordist/pianist, and singer. She is best remembered today for her research and controversial claim that pianist Johana Harris actually composed music that was published under the name of her husband, Roy Harris.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "ITEM 17 – Alice Lee/ Hazel Waterman House" (PDF). The City of San Diego - Historical Resource Board. Retrieved 30 December 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. 1 2 Women of the West: A Series of Biographical Sketches of Living Eminent Women in the Eleven Western States of the United States of America.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Glimpses into the Past" (PDF). westportny. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Binheim, Max; Elvin, Charles A (1928). Women of the West; a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of America. p.  60 . Retrieved 8 August 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. 1 2 3 "Walking Tour of Westport, New York" (PDF). westportny. Retrieved 30 December 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs (2008-08-20). "The Progressive Movement and U.S. Foreign Policy, 1890-1920s". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  7. "Presidential Election of 1912: A Resource Guide (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  8. elisa_rolle (2017-02-18). "Alice Lee (May 27, 1854 - February 18, 1943)". Elisa - My reviews and Ramblings. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  9. Sabin, Paul (2004-12-13), Rousseau, Philip (ed.), "Beaches versus Oil in Southern California", Crude Politics, University of California Press, pp. 52–78, doi:10.1525/california/9780520241985.003.0004, ISBN   978-0-520-24198-5 , retrieved 2022-09-27
  10. "How We Came to Play: The History of Playgrounds | National Trust for Historic Preservation". savingplaces.org. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  11. Diego, Randy Dotinga, Voice of San. "Before Gay Meant Gay: Meet San Diego's Early LGBTQ Pioneers". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 2022-11-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. "The City of San Diego Historical Resources Board" (PDF).