Desti, Mary

Desti was born on Oct. 10, 1871 in Quebec, Canada; became owner of Desti Beauty Products cosmetics firm; also owned a New York City studio which sold art objects, perfumes, and clothing; mother of Preston Sturges and friend of Isadora Duncan; wrote The untold story : the life of Isadora Duncan, 1921-1927 (1929); died Apr. 12, 1931 in New York City.

From the description of Papers, 1918-1930. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 46468041

Mary Desti was a close friend and biographer of the noted modern dancer and choreographer Isadora Duncan.

Desti was born in 1871. In 1901, she left Chicago for Paris with her year-old son Preston Sturges. In Paris, she met and befriended Duncan. Desti frequently accompanied Duncan in her travels. Duncan was staying with Desti in Nice at the time of her sudden death in an automobile accident on September 14, 1927. Desti, a casual writer of both fiction and non-fiction, wrote a Duncan biography the same year, The untold story: the life of Isadora Duncan. Desti died in 1931.

From the description of Mary Desti collection on Isadora Duncan, 1901-1930. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 46308622

Biography

Desti was born on October 10, 1871 in Quebec, Canada; became owner of Desti Beauty Products cosmetics firm; also owned a New York City studio which sold art objects, perfumes, and clothing; mother of Preston Sturges and friend of Isadora Duncan; wrote The untold story: the life of Isadora Duncan, 1921-1927 (1929); died April 12, 1931 in New York City.

From the guide to the Mary Desti Papers, 1918-1930, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Biography

Mary Desti (1871-1931) left Chicago for Paris in 1901 with her year-old son Preston Sturges. In Paris, she met and befriended dancer and choreographer Isadora Duncan. Desti undertook various enterprises in Europe, including a cosmetic business. She frequently accompanied Duncan in her travels, and occasionally Duncan lived with her. Duncan was staying with Desti in Nice at the time of her sudden death in an automobile accident on September 14, 1927.

Following Duncan's death, Desti, a casual writer of both fiction and non-fiction, wrote a Duncan biography, The Untold Story: The Life of Isadora Duncan (New York: Liveright, 1929). Isadora Duncan's autobiography My Life (New York: Liveright, 1927) recorded events through 1921, prior to the period when she opened a dance school in Moscow. Desti intended to tell the rest of the story.

From the guide to the Mary Desti Collection on Isadora Duncan, 1901-1930, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)