[RETAIL] [ARCHIVE] Mrs. Lawrence Gillespie's shopping invoices from the turn of the century

Over 30 invoices portraying the life of the white upper class in New York City and Newport, RI. A thought-provoking look at a life of privilege through the procurement of objects.

Irene Muriel Austusta Sherman was an American-born socialite, notable for her connections to prominent families in the early 20th century. Irene married Lawrence Lewis Gillespie and lived a very privileged life. Her mother, Sophia Augusta Brown Sherman was the daughter of John Carter Brown, best known for assembling one of the world's great collection of books, maps, and manuscripts relating to the history of the Americas, now known as the John Carter Brown Library, and a descendent of Roger Williams (president of the Colony of Rhode Island). Through her father, she was a descendant of Nicholas Brown Sr., brother of John Brown, Moses Brown, and Joseph Brown, all merchants who were active in Rhode Island politics and who brought the College of Rhode Island to Providence in 1771.

A look at some of the invoices:
43 toys from Helen Speer Co., Inc. in NYC on December 6 & 18th, 1919 (Christmas)
Tiffany & Co., Cartier Inc.,
Caroline Stephens Lingerie (Hotel Elysée), $150 for Pajamas, Oct. 1st 1926
Revillon Fréres Fur Storage, NYC 1919
Dinner for 225 at the Hotel Pierre, NYC, $1492, 1935
Gilman Collamore & Co., Newport, RI - glass goblets, 1919
Henri Bendel Inc., NYC $210 for hats, 1920 (handwritten letter by Irene on back of invoice regarding a pink suit)
Davis Collamore & Co., NYC $396 for sets of various size glasses, 1919
L. Rougg, Paris - Robe
B. Altmann & Co. NYC - many letters and invoice for clothes
The Newport Casino, Newport, RI - Rental Box for Lawn Tennis Tournament, 1932