Henry James and Queer Filiation: Hardened Bachelors of the Edwardian Era 1st ed. 2018 Edition
by Michael Anesko
Partner Olivia Cutting James
Queer Places:
Worcester Rural Cemetery, 180 Grove St, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
Martha Lincoln Draper (August 21, 1864 - June 29, 1943) was born on August 21, 1864, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Dr. William Henry Draper and Elizabeth Waldo Kinnicutt Draper. Tragedy touched her early life with the loss of her mother in 1869 when Martha was just five years old, as well as the childhood passing of her older brother Robert Watts Draper. Her father later remarried, expanding a large and prominent family that included her siblings and half-siblings: Dr. William Kinnicutt Draper, Charles Dana Draper, Dr. George Draper, Dorothea Draper Blagden James (a civic organizer), Ruth Draper (the renowned monologist and actress), and Paul Draper.
By the turn of the century, Draper was established in New York City, where she lived with her family in 1900. By 1910, living with her step-brother Charles Draper and supported by her own income, she embarked on a distinguished path of civic leadership, education reform, and public service. From 1910 until 1917, she served as a dedicated member of the New York City Board of Education. Her expertise and influence in public schooling continued to grow in the following decades; notably, in 1926, she was appointed to the Friedsam Commission, which successfully established the modern formula of State aid for New York and helped secure better professional standards and salaries for teachers. Her lifelong advocacy culminated in her service as president of the Public Education Association between 1930 and 1935.
Beyond her work in domestic education, Draper contributed significantly to humanitarian efforts during the First World War. In July 1917, she traveled to France alongside Elizabeth Sherman Hoyt under the auspices of the American Red Cross to undertake critical logistical tasks, including the standardization of hospital garments and dressings, as well as surveying the working conditions of women during wartime.
Within her personal life and social circle, Draper was noted for her independent spirit. Contemporaries described her as serious, intelligent, straightforward, and somewhat mannish in her dress and manner—frequently recognized for wearing tweeds and smoking a cigarette holder. She lived openly as a lesbian within her prominent social circles, spending her later years as the female companion of Olivia Cutting (who was previously married to and divorced from Henry James III). The two shared a simple and independent life together, splitting their time in places like a prefab summer house built on a hill overlooking Tyringham, Massachusetts, where Draper spent her summers driving a Model A Ford, engaging in outdoor activities, and participating in community and family life.
Martha Lincoln Draper passed away on June 29, 1943, in Manhattan, New York City, leaving behind a legacy as one of the city's most steadfast champions of public education. Following her death, she was laid to rest at the Worcester Rural Cemetery in her hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.
References:
|
Henry James and Queer Filiation: Hardened Bachelors of the Edwardian Era 1st ed. 2018 Edition by Michael Anesko |
Other references:
Support this project
This website is a passion project researched, developed, and funded entirely by me. If you find the content valuable and would like to help support the ongoing research and hosting costs, any contribution is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for keeping this independent resource alive!
My books on Amazon: Elisa Rolle's books