Dorothy Sulger Kelly: Her Life and Family
An Illustrated Incomplete History of the United States Through Family Stories
Dorothy Sulger Kelly’s long life in Philadelphia extended from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. The book, Dorothy Sulger Kelly: Her Life and Family: An Illustrated Incomplete History of the United States through Family Stories, based on her 1822 portrait, is primarily a genealogy book, but Patricia Moss weaves history and art history into this exploration of the many facets of inherited wealth. Family members’ lives intersected with major historical events. The most interesting are those omitted from history books, like the Grand Federal Procession and the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Paoli. Her grandsons fought heroically in Civil War campaigns.
Some of her descendants followed the Gilded Age trend of spending most of their lives living abroad in luxurious indulgence. Others created charitable organizations that continue to do good works. Dorothy’s descendants include Dr. Howard A. Kelly, a founder of Johns Hopkins Medical School, writer Kay Boyle, and suffragist leader Dora Kelly. In her family tree are heroes and scoundrels. There is even a Nazi.
Cecilia Beaux and Thomas Eakins portrayed several of Dorothy’s descendants. Artworks by other American artists make the book beautiful. “Fascinating” is the word readers most often use to describe Dorothy Sulger Kelly: Her Life and Family: An Illustrated Incomplete History of the United States.
Dorothy is in production.
Patricia Moss: The Bingham Lady 