Ladies of the Brown: A Women's History of Denver's Most Elegant Hotel

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

Since the day it opened in 1892, Denver's Brown Palace Hotel has been the Mile High City's foremost destination for high-powered business travelers, celebrities, royalty and politicians. In Ladies of the Brown, hotel historian and archivist Debra B. Faulkner introduces readers to some of the hotel's most fascinating and famous female visitors, residents and employees. From Denver's "Unsinkable" Molly Brown and Romania's Queen Marie to Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mamie Eisenhower and many, many more, these intriguing characters play leading roles in true tales of romance, scandal, humor and heartbreak. This collection of stories is integral to the history of the Brown Palace and Denver, offering a glimpse into the lives of generations of women from all walks of life

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609491284
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	12/03/2010
Series:	Landmarks
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Debra Faulkner grew up in Loveland, Colorado, and her first memory of the Brown Palace dates to a visit from a wealthy uncle of her mother's, who treated them to dinner in the Palace Arms and bought Debra her first cocktail—a Shirley Temple. Faulkner earned her bachelor's degree in education and master's in history from the University of Colorado. She currently teaches U.S. and Colorado history courses at Metropolitan State College on the Auraria campus. Her passion for women's history led her to serve on the board of the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame for three years and to create the archives for that organization. Faulkner authored the award-winning biography Touching Tomorrow: The Emily Griffith Story (Filter Press, 2005) and Mary Elitch Long: First Lady of Fun (Filter Press, 2008), as well as several books on Colorado history in collaboration with Thomas J. Noel. Since 2008, Faulkner has served as hotel historian and archivist for the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction: An Oasis of Elegance 11

Part I Legendary Ladies

A Three-Part Series Mrs. Henry C. Brown 19

Cast-Off Spouse Augusta Tabor 22

Titanic Heart Margaret "Molly" Brown 25

The Queen of Diamonds Kittie Wilkins 29

Opportunity's Champion Emily Griffith 34

The Notorious Navarre Naughty Neighbors 37

Part II Society Ladies

Doyenne of the "Sacred Thirty-Six" Mrs. Crawford Hill 43

Playing with Fire Isabel "Sassy" Springer 48

The Last Hope Evalyn Walsh McLean 51

Palatial Playground Jacqueline Hoefler Troyer 54

Sir Galahad's Lady Marietta Vasconcells Bakewell 57

Lasting Impressions Edna Boettcher 63

Part III Famous Ladies

Divine Diva Sarah Bernhardt 69

Shining Through Helen Keller 72

All-Around Athlete Mildred "Babe" Didriksen Zaharias 75

Spunky Songstress Debbie Reynolds 78

Animal Magnetism Zsa Zsa Gabor 82

Memorable Timing Joan Baez 84

Part IV Working Ladies

Take a Letter Edna Stewart 89

On Top of Things Rosalie Soper 92

Going Up! Marge Harmon 97

Aid and Comfort Katherine Rickes Orr 101

Saving the Stories Corinne Hunt 107

A Varied Repertoire Barbara Goodrich 110

Part V Prominent Ladies

Queen Marie of Romania: A Royal Ruckus 115

Hometown Girl Mamie Eisenhower 119

Equal Pardner Jessie Thornton 124

Miss America by Day Marilyn van Derbur 128

Camping In Ethel Kennedy 132

Second to None Hillary Rodham Clinton 134

Epilogue 137

Timeline 139

Recipes from the Brown Palace 145

Bibliography 149

Index 153

About the Author 159