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Featured Adelaide Schell -- Who Was She?

Discussion in 'Ephemera and Photographs' started by Figtree3, Jun 30, 2014.

  1. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Well, I guess I'll start off with a photograph.

    Recently purchased this photo. There is writing on the back identifying the younger woman as Adelaide Schell, and says it was taken on the occasion of her debut as a concert pianist.

    The seller of this photo had found somebody named Adelaide Schell who was born in 1845 and died 1915, and claimed that this Adelaide was the same person, and that the photo must date from the late 1860s to early 1870s. I purchased this for the sole reason that I knew that this photo has to date from the early 20th century, based on style of clothing and type of photo, etc.

    I haven't yet done a lot of looking for any information since I purchased this in mid-May. Would anybody be interested in looking for information to try to identify this Adelaide Schell?

    The inscription says "My mother-in-law and sister-in-law Adelaide Schell -- Just before her debut as concert pianist."

    Adelaide Schell and Mother (480x640).jpg


    Adelaide Schell and Mother2 (477x640).jpg
     
  2. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    No clues about where this was taken, huh?

    Oh wait! There's a photographer's stamp in the lower left corner?
     
    kyratango likes this.
  3. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Sorry, forgot that part!

    Taken by Rockwood in New York City. And it's larger than a cabinet card... I will go and measure it.
     
    kyratango and Christmasjoy like this.
  4. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    The dimensions of the card are just a little less than 6" x 8" -- And, the photographer Rockwood was located at 145th St. and Amsterdam Ave. in New York City.
     
    kyratango likes this.
  5. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Well, with any luck she actually lived in New York and didn't just "debut" there.
     
    kyratango likes this.
  6. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    My goodness what a buxom young woman! And I see she balances it out with big hair and a huge hat!
     
  7. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Interesting - way Upper West Side.
     
    kyratango likes this.
  8. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    :eek: Speaking of the hats, the feathers remind me of an outfit my grandmother was wearing in a picture at about the age of 4. Would have been 1906.
     
    PortableTreasures and kyratango like this.
  9. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    That would be about the time period from which I thought the photo would date. I was thinking first decade of the 20th century.
     
    PortableTreasures and kyratango like this.
  10. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    I've got a "possible". Adelaide Schell, born 1882 NYC. Living in Manhattan 1900 with parents Richard (an insurance broker) and Adelaide (no occupation) with younger brother H. Elmer (born 1887 NYC.) I found Elmer in 1930 living in Los Angeles with a much younger wife, selling insurance. But haven't found any of the family in the years between.

    I'll keep looking. Plus I need to check out the addresses to find out what part of Manhattan they lived in. There are addresses on Amsterdam Avenue on other pages, but it's a long street.
     
  11. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Thanks very much -- that does sound possible! Too bad there is almost no 1890 census information available (I think, for the 900th time...).
     
    kyratango, Christmasjoy and Bakersgma like this.
  12. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    All righty, then. They're living in the right area (about 190th and Amsterdam is down the block from this family.) Washington Heights.
     
    kyratango likes this.
  13. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Yup. That's an issue, but to ensure we've got a budding pianist we need the 1910. I'll keep looking.
     
    kyratango likes this.
  14. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Thanks very much! I will be needing to log off soon. If you don't have time to continue I would understand.

    By the way, I found this free site that lists an Adelaide Schell born about 1882 listed in Queens, NY in the 1940 Census. Since it appears that she is with a husband and son, I don't think this is the same person:

    http://www.archives.com/1940-census/adelaide-schell-ny-60373613
     
  15. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    No, that's not her. I saw that couple in the earlier decades too.
     
  16. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Well, I may have found her and her Father in 1920, living in Kingston, NY. She was married, using the surname Satorius. Using that name I found an Adelaide and Otto W. Satorius with 2 young children (the older 2 yrs old) in Brooklyn in the 1915 NY Census. But I haven't found a marriage record or either one of them in 1910 yet.

    I did find an Otto W. Satorius listed as living alone in Syracuse, NY in the 1925 city directory, but normally, if married, his spouse would also be named.

    I'm going to give it a rest for the evening and try again in the morning.
     
    PortableTreasures and Figtree3 like this.
  17. kentworld

    kentworld Well-Known Member

    Those hats are fabulous!
     
  18. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    bbs140628.jpg Hi Bakersgma,
    Good sleuthing. Here is a cartoon that I think you might injoy.
    greg
     
  19. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Thanks for your help, bakersgma. It sounds like a good lead. I probably won't be able to follow up until the weekend.
     
  20. elarnia

    elarnia SIWL

    This woman had an eventful life, but I have doubts about her being the Adelaide in the picture.

    It seems that 17 year old Adelaide, daughter of "wealthy insurance broker Richard Schell" had "slight stage experience and was called the most beautiful girl in Washington Heights" when she met Dr. Francis Alexis Sutorius, one of the most promising young physicians from the Bronx, married with two children, and considerably her senior.

    The two of them eloped to London where things didn't go well for them. "Destitute", a style she was not used to, Adelaide returned to her parents some six weeks later, and the good Dr. returned to his wife, who accepted him back "for the sake of the children and because she still loved him".

    Some time after this he was arrested for "drunk & disorderly conduct" for throwing a friend through a plate glass window of a bar during an eclipse :eek:.

    The end of the story? -- But no - some three years later, the Dr having filed for divorce, though it's uncertain if he was granted one, they eloped again, this time going west. she contacted her parents from Iowa, saying she was very happy. The AMA journal has them married there.

    Some time after that her father was seeking to have her mother committed for observation following what sounds like a classic nervous breakdown.

    A real shame they didn't have reality TV in the 1900's.

    I thought the "some stage experience" sounded promising, but she is referred to in one article as a singer. I'm not sure how she would have had time to become a concert pianist, unless the appellation is a courtesy society one for the kind of performing any young lady of society was expected to be able to do.

    On the other hand, the woman in the picture looks to be wearing rings on both hands - perhaps Schell is her married name? (Perhaps even her mother? Although I didn't find any mention of her being a pianist, the stories were really about her daughter.)

    I knew I included newspapers in my Ancestry subscription for some reason:).
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2014
    kyratango, Figtree3 and kentworld like this.
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