Sandwiched In with Ron Brown - Mrs. Astor - Founder of the American Aristocracy

Unlike the great nations of the world who boasted royal families and aristocrats who can trace their ancestry back millennia, the United States was a nation of refugees, immigrants and settlers. No matter how wealthy they became, they remained gilded - a thin layer of gold hiding ancestries that ranged from horse thieves to gangsters. Following the Civil War, Mrs. Caroline Schermerhorn Webster Astor, set out to draw up a list of 400 individuals (actually 399, plus Mrs. Astor) who she considered dignified enough to constitute an American aristocracy.  And ever since, Americans have fought fiercely to gain a slot on this distinguished list of American aristocrats.  As part of the Library’s monthlong celebration of Women’s History Month, join Dr. Ron Brown as he explores the life and legacy of Mrs. Astor.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library