queerplaces - Ouida Bessie Grant

Queer Places:
926 5th Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA
Simpson Family Homestead & Library, 1972 East Craftsbury Road, Craftsbury, VT 05826
Casa Mia, 26 S. Albany Road, Craftsbury, VT 05826
East Craftsbury Cemetery, Craftsbury, VT 05826, United States

Ouida Bessie Grant (January 6, 1880 - December 25, 1963) was born on January 6, 1880, in Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada, to Charles H. A. Grant and Mary Grant. Later residing in Montreal, she entered the social orbit of the prominent, wealthy Simpson family of New York, a connection that defined the rest of her life. During the summer months, Grant routinely traveled with the family, accompanying Mrs. Kate Seney Simpson (wife of prominent attorney John Woodruff Simpson) and her daughter, Jean Walker Simpson, to elite vacation retreats such as Cottage 19 at the Profile House in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Profile House was a massive, self-contained hotel complex in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, operating from 1853 until it was completely destroyed by a catastrophic fire on August 3, 1923. In addition to the main grand hotel, the complex included a private village of 20 luxury private guest cottages (including Cottage 19), stables, a bowling alley, power plant, and train station.

Over the years, Grant became an indispensable part of the Simpson household. She assisted with high-society social and charitable events in New York, helping direct performances alongside Jean and contributing to animal welfare galas and local theatre efforts. Following the death of John Woodruff Simpson in 1920, Grant’s integration into the household was formally recognized. John’s will established a trust that provided Grant with a steady income, while a New York neighbor also acknowledged their close household bond by leaving bequests jointly to Jean and Grant.

The relationship between Ouida Bessie Grant, Kate Seney Simpson, and Jean Walker Simpson represents a classic example of historic same-sex domestic partnerships and intimate female networks, often understood through the lens of "Boston marriages" or lifelong female companionships. Kate Simpson’s obituary, written by Jean, explicitly described Grant as having "become a member of the family" and a constant companion to the mother. Following Kate's death in 1943, newspaper accounts and personal correspondence shifted to referencing Grant primarily as the companion to Jean herself. Friends writing to Jean routinely acknowledged Grant as her equal partner in the home, asking Jean to send her best to Ouida.

The two women spent their later years together at the Simpson estate in Craftsbury, Orleans County, Vermont. Grant passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, 1963, at the age of 83, in the home she shared with Jean. Her death certificate confirmed her passing at Jean's residence. Highlighting the deeply intertwined nature of their lives, Grant was buried in the Simpson family plot at East Craftsbury Cemetery. Her gravestone stands directly alongside those of John Woodruff Simpson, Kate Seney Simpson, and Jean Walker Simpson, serving as a lasting testament to her permanent place within the family and her lifelong bond with Jean.

References:

Official Death Certificate (1963): Confirms death date (December 25, 1963) in Craftsbury, Orleans County, Vermont, listing parentage (Charles H. A. Grant and Mary Grant) and place of death at the home of Jean Walker Simpson.
East Craftsbury Cemetery Records & Headstone (East Craftsbury, Vermont): Joint burial plot containing John Woodruff Simpson, Kate Seney Simpson, Jean Walker Simpson, and Ouida B. Grant.
Will & Testament of John Woodruff Simpson (1920): Provisions establishing an income trust for Ouida Bessie Grant.
New York Neighbor Estate Bequests: Local probate filings recording joint bequests awarded to both Jean Walker Simpson and Ouida B. Grant.
Jean Walker Simpson Papers & Personal Correspondence: Incoming letters and correspondence acknowledging Grant's place in the household, including sympathy notes and personal greetings sent to both Jean and Ouida.
New York Times (July 4, 1920): Profile House, White Mountains summer retreat coverage identifying "Miss Ouida B. Grant of Montreal" accompanying Mrs. John W. Simpson and Miss Jean W. Simpson at Cottage 19.
New York Press Coverage (1920s): Reports detailing charitable galas and amateur theatrical productions (such as the all-feminine benefit performance of Hamlet for the Speyer Hospital for Animals) listing Ouida B. Grant as coach/director alongside Jean Walker Simpson.
Obituary for Kate Seney Simpson (1943): Written by Jean Walker Simpson, noting that Grant became a core member of the household and a long-time companion to the family.
John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library (East Craftsbury, Vermont): Holds the Ouida B. Grant Film Collection, featuring archival home footage and recordings documenting local events, the Simpson family, and Jean's East Hill Players.
Biographical Literature on Auguste Rodin: Citations referencing early 20th-century family photographs taken by Ouida Grant during the Simpson family's visits with sculptor Auguste Rodin in France.

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