Mrs. Calhoun, Famed Social Leader, Dies
Mrs. Daisy Breaux Calhoun, 85, clubwoman and social leader in Capital society of the World War I era, died yesterday in Charleston, S.C., the Associated Press reported. She left Washington last year to live in Charleston, her former home. A native of Philadelphia, she spent her early life in Texas and Louisiana and received her education at the Convent of the Visitation in Washington. Thrice married, her first husband was Andrew Simonds, a banker with whom she made her home in Charleston. At this home, Villa Margherita, often known as "The White House of the South," she entertained Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland and William Howard Taft. After Mr. Simonds' death, the home was turned into a de luxe hotel. Mrs. Calhoun later married Barker Gummere, New Jersey banker. Their home at Princeton was visited by many dignitaries, including President Woodrow Wilson. On the death of Mr. Gummere, she turned their home, Rosedale, into a girls' school. After her daughter's graduation, she left the school to the operation of members of the faculty. In 1918 she married Clarence Crittendon Calhoun, Washington attorney, and came here to live. Continuing her repuatation as a hostess of famous personages, she entertained the Duke of Windsor in 1919 while he was Prince of Wales. It was after this visit that she was presented with the Claymore, a two-handed sword, of Bonnie Prince Charlie by a kingsman, Lord Garioch, son of the thirty-third Earl of Mar. Mrs. Calhoun was a descendant of the house of Mar on her mother's side. The Calhouns occupied the Rossdhu Castle, landmark on Brookeville Road just across the District line in Montgomery County. Mr. Calhoun died in 1938. Mrs. Calhoun founded the Women's National Foundation and the Women's Universal Alliance. The Universal Alliance, formed to weld a chain of friendship between women of all nations, held its first World Welfare Conference here in 1923. Interested in dramatics, she wrote many plays and acted in some herself. She was a member of the Pen Women's League, Chevy Chase Club, Riding and Hunt Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and other clubs in New Jersey. She was also a former president-general of the Women's Auxillary of the Southern Commercial Congress, president of the Drama League of Washington and president of the Women's Universal Alliance.
She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Waring, of Charleston, three grandsons and three great-granchildren.
From the Washington Post, 1949
Provided by Anna O'Quinn Richter
Mrs. Calhoun, Famed Social Leader, Dies
Mrs. Daisy Breaux Calhoun, 85, clubwoman and social leader in Capital society of the World War I era, died yesterday in Charleston, S.C., the Associated Press reported. She left Washington last year to live in Charleston, her former home. A native of Philadelphia, she spent her early life in Texas and Louisiana and received her education at the Convent of the Visitation in Washington. Thrice married, her first husband was Andrew Simonds, a banker with whom she made her home in Charleston. At this home, Villa Margherita, often known as "The White House of the South," she entertained Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland and William Howard Taft. After Mr. Simonds' death, the home was turned into a de luxe hotel. Mrs. Calhoun later married Barker Gummere, New Jersey banker. Their home at Princeton was visited by many dignitaries, including President Woodrow Wilson. On the death of Mr. Gummere, she turned their home, Rosedale, into a girls' school. After her daughter's graduation, she left the school to the operation of members of the faculty. In 1918 she married Clarence Crittendon Calhoun, Washington attorney, and came here to live. Continuing her repuatation as a hostess of famous personages, she entertained the Duke of Windsor in 1919 while he was Prince of Wales. It was after this visit that she was presented with the Claymore, a two-handed sword, of Bonnie Prince Charlie by a kingsman, Lord Garioch, son of the thirty-third Earl of Mar. Mrs. Calhoun was a descendant of the house of Mar on her mother's side. The Calhouns occupied the Rossdhu Castle, landmark on Brookeville Road just across the District line in Montgomery County. Mr. Calhoun died in 1938. Mrs. Calhoun founded the Women's National Foundation and the Women's Universal Alliance. The Universal Alliance, formed to weld a chain of friendship between women of all nations, held its first World Welfare Conference here in 1923. Interested in dramatics, she wrote many plays and acted in some herself. She was a member of the Pen Women's League, Chevy Chase Club, Riding and Hunt Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and other clubs in New Jersey. She was also a former president-general of the Women's Auxillary of the Southern Commercial Congress, president of the Drama League of Washington and president of the Women's Universal Alliance.
She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Waring, of Charleston, three grandsons and three great-granchildren.
From the Washington Post, 1949
Provided by Anna O'Quinn Richter
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