Gertrude sanford legendre s face was not beautiful. Gertrude sanford legendre, 97, socialite turned hunter and. This book brings to life of high society and how they lived in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and beyond. Born in aiken, south carolina, she was the daughter of new york rug magnate. The gertrude sanford legendre collection boasts nearly,000 35mm color slides. Letter from gertrude legendre to her husband, sidney legendre, regarding how unhappy she is to be separated from him and apologizing for being irrational. A chronicle of an american explorer, sportswoman, socialite, and war h. Kathryn will begin the reading at 6 pm, followed by a discussion and book signing. Womens national book association wnba metro atlanta.
Gertrude sanford legendre, an heiress, explorer, socialite and spy, lived a 20th century life full of. But the united states government hesitated to act because she was just too hot to handle. Evening post books, a division of evening post industries, which also owns the post and courier, has published the biography gertie. Medway was in derelict condition and they restored the home and the grounds over many years. Most of these slides are of gertrude s travels in north america, africa, europe, asia, oceania, and to islands in the atlantic.
The fabulous life of getrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy 2019 and a guest of the. Legendre was born in 1902 to an ultrawealthy family in aiken, south carolina, and. A biography of a socialite with family connections to amsterdam makes the case that the heiress led an adventurous life, including being held by the nazis in world war ii. Are there any books written about gertrude sanford legendre. Representative john sanford i 18031857 and mary slack 18031888 of amsterdam n. Archives, college of charleston, gertrude sanford legendre, processing update benito mussolini, expeditions, galeazzo ciano, george platt lynes, gertrude sanford legendre, man ray, mihai antonescu, processing update, scrapbooks, toni frissell, world war ii. She was famed in charleston for the new years eve costume party she hostessed for more than half a century. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Stephen sanford 182619, gertrude sanford legendre s paternal grandfather, was born to u.
Heiress, explorer, socialite, spy march 27, 2020 by bob cudmore leave a comment this week on the historians podcast, kathryn smith. A detail from a portrait of gertrude sanford legendre by sir william. Gertrude sanford married the expeditions coleader sidney j. The sanford historical society presents kathryn smith, who will sign copies of her book, gertie. Gertie sanford married sidney legendre in 1929 in new york. In particular, legendre developed a youthful obsession with big game hunting. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress. Still leading an adventurous life 40 years later, she wrote a second one titled the time of my life. Also includes loose images of john and jane sanford golfing, laddie on a polo pony, and carola. This week on the historians podcast, kathryn smith. Author christopher dickey will recount the adventures of gertrude sanford legendre at an upcoming friends of the library at the college of. She is remembered for her aroundtheworld expeditions to collect flora and fauna for museums, her gracious manner and her.
The presentation precedes the lunch and the luncheon is followed by a book signing at litchfield books. Heiress, explorer, socialite, spy pub date august th. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy legendre was descended from the amsterdam, new york, sanfords who made a fortune in the carpet industry she worked for the office of strategic services, an american spy agency, in world war ii. Gertrude sanford legendre 19022000 was an american socialite who served as an oss operative during world war ii. Bokara legendre, solo performer, socialite and buddhist. Ms legendre was the granddaughter of henry sanford, founder of the city of sanford. She was a daring and fearless woman whose adventures included being the first american woman in uniform held as a pow by the germans during world war ii. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy date. Man ray and harpers bazaar glamorized her as best they could. Heiress, explore, socialite, spy on thursday february, 20th at 6. Gertrude ellen legendre sanford 1902 2000 genealogy.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. In the months ahead, two biographies will be published about gertrude sanford legendre, late of fishers island, her 6,700acre plantation near charleston, s. Bos mother, gertrude sanford legendre, grew up in the family house at 9 east 72nd street in new york and in aiken. Born in 1902 in aiken, south carolina horse country her family owned famous stables there, gertrude sanford could boast two sanfords for. Bokara legendre obituary new york, ny new york times.
Author kathryn smith first heard about gertrude sanford legendre from a friend who was gathering information online about medway plantation. She was also a noted explorer, biggame hunter, environmentalist, and owner of medway plantation in south carolina. Gertrude sanford legendre 19022000 was an american socialite who served as a spy during world war ii. Author kathryn smith to speak tuesday, wednesday in. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy, a biography of a woman whose adventurous life. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy gertie lived a 20th century life full of fun, adventure, derringdo and drama. Gertrude ellen dupuy gertie sanford legendre 19022000. Gertrude sanford legendre was a woman whose adventurous life began in aiken, s. Though many printed pictures of her expeditions are showcased in her scrapbooks and.
Gertrude sanford legendre papers, 18362000 lowcountry. Gertrude sanford legendre, an unlikely debutante of the 1920s who forsook society to become a biggame hunter and then to work during world war ii for the office of strategic services, predecessor of the central intelligence agency, died on wednesday at medway, her historic lantation near charleston, s. Ethel studied at the convent of notre dame france before marrying john sanford and moving to america. Gertrude wrote her first autobiography, the sands ceased to run, in 1947. Gertrude sanford legendre was a woman whose adventurous life spanned the twentieth century, beginning in aiken, s. The gertrude sanford legendre papers college of charleston. Legendre was descended from the amsterdam, new york, sanfords who made a fortune in the carpet industry. By land and by sea about founded in 2008, evening post books specializes in high quality literary fiction and nonfiction written by authors hailing from and writing about the. Bokara legendre, a solo performer, tv host and selfdescribed socialiteturnedsocial activist, died dec. Following their marriage, the couple purchased one of south carolinas oldest surviving plantations, medway, to make their home.
Kathryn smith has produced another portrait of a strong independent woman in her biography gertie. Gertrude sanford legendre, an unlikely debutante of the 1920s who forsook society to become a biggame hunter and then to work during world war ii for the office of strategic services. Roaring 20s, gertrude legendre, big game hunting, world war ii, ww ii, nazi, oss, spy, prisoner of war, plantation, medway, south carolina, conservation. Legendre was born in 1902 to an ultrawealthy family in aiken, south carolina, and enjoyed an enviably privileged youth. Join us on the evening of august 29th to celebrate kathryn smiths most recent biography, gertie. Gertrude sanford legendre march 29, 1902 march 8, 2000 was an american socialite who. Gertrude sanford legendre, an unlikely debutante of the 1920s who forsook society to become a biggame hunter and then to work during. Gertie lived a 20th century life full of fun, adventure, derringdo and drama. Gertie lived a 20th century life full of fun, adventure, derringdo and. The time of my life by gertrude sanford legendre goodreads. However, she always yearned for adventurea desire that biographer smith coauthor. Prominent winter colony resident focus of authors new book.
Socialite73 years ago this month, newspaper headlines around the world trumpeted the fate of charlestons own gertrude legendre, the internationally known globetrotter and biggame hunter who was caught behind enemy lines during world war ii. Bestselling author to discuss privilege and patriotism of gertrude. Born in aiken, south carolina, she was the daughter of. Publication party for gertie with kathryn smith buxton books. Read all about her gilded age girlhood, explorations on three continents, hijinks on the french riviera with the lost generation, work for the oss the original american spy agency during world war ii, and her imprisonment by the nazis. Gertrude continues to discuss the business and troubles in managing medway plantations affairs. Daring and fearless, she undertook numerous challenging expeditions for natural history museums, and befriended some of the greatest personalities of the time, including scott and zelda fitzgerald. Gertrude sanford legendre military wiki fandom powered.
Union ave books welcomes author, kathryn smith, for an event about her new book gertie. One can see that in the many images from her archive that were donated to and digitized by the college of charleston. Author kathryn smith, a former reporter with the aiken standard, will discuss her new gertie. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy legendre was descended from the amsterdam, new york, sanfords who made a fortune in the carpet industry. Gertrude sanford legendre was a largerthanlife 20th century woman whose life will be told in the forthcoming book gertie by kathryn smith. Gertrude legendre the high life to spy life, and back. Gertrude sanford legendre author recounts her capture and imprisonment by germans soldiers while working the. Read all about her gilded age girlhood, explorations on three continents, hijinks on the french riviera with the lost generation, work for the oss the original american spy agency during world war ii, and her impri. The fabulous life of gertrude sanford legendre, heiress, explorer, socialite, spy.
How gertie legendre became the first american woman in. A biography of gertrude sanford legendre, a wealthy socialiteturnedworld war ii spy. Gertrude sanford legendre papers, 18362000 lowcountry digital. The socialite spy who played so dumb she outsmarted the nazis. South carolina native gertrude sanford legendre worked for an american spy agency during world war ii and was captured by the germans during the war.