Belmont, Alva, 1853-1933

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Alva Erskine Smith Vanderbilt Belmont was an American multi-millionaire socialite and women's suffrage activist. In 1909, she founded the Political Equality League to get votes for suffrage-supporting New York State politicians, wrote articles for newspapers, and joined the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). She later formed her own Political Equality League to seek broad support for suffrage in neighborhoods throughout New York City, and, as its president, led its division of New York City's 1912 Women's Votes Parade. In 1916, she was one of the founders of the National Woman's Party (NWP) and organized the first picketing ever to take place before the White House, in January 1917. She was elected president of the NWP, an office she held until her death.

She was married twice, to socially prominent New York City millionaires William Kissam Vanderbilt, with whom she had three children, and Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont. Alva was known for her many building projects, including: the Petit Chateau in New York; the Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island; the Belmont House in New York; Brookholt in Long Island; and Beacon Towers in Sands Point, New York.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Laidlaw, H. B. (Harriet Burton), b. 1874. Papers: Series V-VII, 1906-1947 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Scrapbooks, logbooks and photo albums, ca. 1885-1952, ca. 1900-ca. 1940 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Roberts, Margaret Stevenson, 1872-1952. Papers, 1896-1956 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Jane Norman Smith, 1913-1953 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Page, Mary Hutcheson, 1860-1940. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1892-1943 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Stevens, Doris, 1888-1963. Papers, 1884-1983 (inclusive), 1920-1960 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Reyher, Rebecca Hourwich, 1897-1987. Papers, 1877-1988 (bulk: 1915-1970) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1847-1968 (bulk: 1909-1929) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Page, Mary Hutcheson, 1860-1940. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1892-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Young, Matilda. Papers, 1932-1933. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Records Related to Commission Meetings and Hearings, October 29, 2018–April 15, 2021 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Papers, 1785, 1805-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Roberts, Margaret Stevenson, 1872-1952. Papers, 1896-1956 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dobbs, Jeannine. Class essays, 1977. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944. Papers of C. E. S. Wood, 1829-1980 (bulk 1870-1940). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Papers, 1906-1916 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Laidlaw, Harriet Burton, 1873-1949. Papers, 1851-1958 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Jane Norman Smith, 1913-1953 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Milholland, Inez, 1886-1916. Papers, 1906-1916 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Alice Paul, 1785-1985 (inclusive), 1805-1985 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1847-1968 (inclusive), 1909-1929 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn J. Walter Thompson Company. Lucile Turnbach Platt Papers, 1926-1930 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith ALICE PAUL, 1885-1977 person
associatedWith Dobbs, Jeannine. person
associatedWith Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. person
associatedWith Harriet Wright (Burton) Laidlaw, 1873-1949 person
associatedWith INEZ MILHOLLAND, 1886-1916 person
associatedWith Jane Norman Smith (Mrs. Clarence M.), 1874-1953 person
associatedWith J. Walter Thompson Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Laidlaw, H. B. (Harriet Burton), b. 1874. person
associatedWith Margaret Stephenson Roberts, d. 1952 person
associatedWith Mary Hutcheson Page, 1860-1940 person
associatedWith Milholland, Inez, 1886-1916. person
associatedWith Page, Mary Hutcheson, 1860-1940. person
associatedWith Paul, Alice, 1885-1977. person
associatedWith Rebecca Hourwich Reyher person
associatedWith Roberts, Margaret Stephenson, d.1952. person
associatedWith Smith, Jane Norman, 1874-1953. person
associatedWith Stevens, Doris, 1888-1963. person
associatedWith Vanderbilt Museum of Suffolk County (Centerport, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944. person
associatedWith Young, Matilda. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Newport RI US
Paris A8 FR
Manhattan NY US
Mobile AL US
Subject
Occupation
Socialites
Suffragists
Activity

Person

Birth 1853-01-17

Death 1933-01-26

Information

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Ark ID: w6136krb

SNAC ID: 88026676