Portrait of Louisa Carolina Graves nee Colleton (b.1763 - d.1822), Unknown artist. Formerly in the collection of Christian Dior (b.1905 - d.1957) at the Chateau de la Colle Noire, Montauroux. Try out the podcast above for a great deep dive into Louisa's history. The Colleton family, one of the prominent families in South Carolina's history, played a significant role in shaping the cultural and economic landscape of the Lowcountry. Arriving in the 17th century, they became inf

The Fast-Paced World of Squash: A Racquet Sport with Rich Origins and Harkness Connections Squash is a dynamic and fast-paced racquet sport with a fascinating history that stretches back to the early 19th century. Its origins lie at Harrow School in the United Kingdom, where students created a new twist on the traditional game of rackets. As a former member of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to play Court(Royal) Tennis, Squash and Rackets. One of my fe

Bide-a-While, Bar Harbor, ME A Standard Oil Fortune Summers in Maine As principals in the formidable Standard Oil trust, the Harkness family occupied a rarified position within America’s Gilded Age aristocracy. For this new class of industrial magnates, wealth was not merely accumulated; it was performed on a national stage. Elite summer resorts like Bar Harbor, Maine, served as crucial venues for this performance—places where families of immense fortune could solidify their