Dear Reader,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in possession of a tiara created in 1873 by Norwegian royal court jeweler, Jacob Ulrich Holfeldt Tostrup. Because I adore intricate filigree jewelry, the tiara caught my eye. I wanted to learn more about the tiara’s owner, Mrs. Harriette M. Arnold.
Who was this American woman who owned jewelry created by the Norwegian court jeweler? And why would she own a tiara?
Besides discovering that she was the wife of US Supreme Court Justice, Rufus W. Peckham, I wasn’t able to ascertain much more about her. Years of searching every database I had access to has resulted in scant details and nothing of substance. I wasn’t even able to locate a photograph. I reached out to the Met but they never responded to my email. The more walls I hit the more desperate I became to discover details about Harriette.
But sometimes my research goes nowhere and this project is, unfortunately, another one that bites the dust.
Because her husband was a US Supreme Court Justice, it’s easy to research him. Rufus’s personal papers were donated to the US Library of Congress. It’s possible that within those papers there might be a few gold nuggets about his wife, but they aren’t digitized.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to hit pause. For now. Which is a bitter pill for me to swallow. I never give up on anything. I even finish reading books I don’t like.
Perhaps someday I’ll have the opportunity to review the justice’s files; but for now, this is a chapter I have to close. Before I close the chapter, I want to share with you the scant details I uncovered from the archives of The Washington Post and the New York Social Register.
The mysterious Mrs. Harriette M. Peckham, née Arnold, was born on December 13, 1839 and died in New York on July 25, 1917. Her father, D. H. Arnold, was president of Mercantile Bank in New York City.
In 1866, she married Rufus W. Peckham, who later became a justice on the US Supreme Court. Lawyering and judging runs in the family as Rufus’s own father was a successful judge. His father and mother died in a shipwreck aboard the Ville du Havre in 1873. Rufus died in 1909.
In 1910, Harriette became ill on a ship en route to Europe. Upon arrival, she was immediately taken to a hospital in Southampton. Mrs. Peckham was accompanied to Europe by a Miss Squire.
Harriette lived at 1215 Connecticut Avenue, NW, which was formerly the home of Alexander Graham Bell. This house was razed to make way for what is now a commercial and business district in Washington D.C.
At one point, she also lived at The Hotel Grafton, which was built in 1894 and located at 1139 Connecticut Avenue, NW. In 1909 it underwent $200,000 worth of improvements. It ceased being a hotel in 1941. The building no longer exists and this particular area is no longer residential.
Sadly, she and Rufus outlived their two sons (Rufus and Henry), which makes me wonder if this is why she donated her jewelry to the Met.
Another interesting (and tragic) tidbit I discovered is that she was the paternal aunt of Dorothy Arnold, an heiress who went missing in New York City in 1910.
So, as you can see, I just don’t have enough to write a biography. But perhaps I have enough to write a fictitious story on Substack?
A few history and bookish links of note.
Ethiopia's Prince Alemayehu: Buckingham Palace rejects calls to return royal's body (BBC) This story made me sad but also infuriated me. This young prince was taken from his homeland against his will. I think the least that can be done today is to repatriate his remains. If you can get past the paywall, this article by The Washington Post has the history behind the tragic story.
A great painter’s novel attempt to compete with literature (The Washington Post) This may be behind a paywall, but if you clear your cookies you may be able to read this article. It’s a fascinating account about one of Degas’s early masterpieces.
How should we feel about Barnes & Noble now? (The Book Riot) I confess, while I patronize my local bookshops and small businesses, I also shop at Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Crinoline, The Fatal Fashion Trend That Killed Thousands Of Women During The Victorian Era (by allthatsinteresting.com) They were burned alive!!! How awful.
Treason: A Potted History of the Law (YouTube) If you haven’t watched Dr. Kat, you’re in for a treat. Dr. Kat is a cultural historian who dissects and discusses the most interesting historical facts. I highly recommend her channel. She is so much fun.
Thank you very much for reading. I deeply appreciate your support. I hope that June has all kinds of fun treats in store for you.
Hope you get to view the papers one day. Too tempting a story!