A Real Life Downton Abbey American Heiress: the 9th Countess of Sandwich
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- One of the larger projects we have ongoing here at Mapperton is the archiving of the memoirs of Alberta Sturges, the 9th Countess of Sandwich. Born in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, she travelled to the UK during the Gilded Age, and married George Montagu, the 9th Earl.
Alberta kept everything, and there’s a lot of material to work through. We have the diaries she wrote from when she was 10, daily correspondence with her mother, archive photos, journals, and accounts of the First World War. What you see in this video is just a small snippet of the archive.
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The family is very fortunate to have someone (you) so passionate about preserving and telling these stories. I love your CZcams channel!
Thank you so much! ❤️
Agree with you, her passion towards this is inspiring.
Yes Julie brings new life to Mapperton, being a very passionate person is just what Mapperton's been waiting for 👏🏼 love the diary excerpts, love to know more on Alberta & being from Boston where she had visited 1904 wasn't she beautiful 🌺
Another American Blessing :)
@@AmericanViscountess would you be so kind and allow us a view of words that depicts her thoughts from day to day. This is a piece of my family scary to say this here. But my fears are greater then an unknown statues of who believes who and why.
Please read us some of these writings. One day before my health doesn't allow this I would like to meet this family and welcome any missing pieces to her life and from her circle. I'm very interested to bring closure to a secret within if I'm allowed.
Countess, I think that you have been a breath of fresh air and a blessing to this home and family. I wish that your channel could go viral.
I hope so too!
Hello! My aunt shared this video to me as my grandmother worked for Alberta. I didn’t know until a few years ago! My grandmother’s name was Peggy and she was Alberta’s handmaiden. Peggy met my grandfather during WWII and they got married. Alberta and her husband thought the world of my grandmother & sent her to the United States on the original Queen Mary. My cousin found the passenger log a few years ago and sent me a picture where our grandmother signed in. So fascinating! I would LOVE to see where my grandmother worked if I ever make it across the pond. Hopefully one of these days!
💖 Love this 👏👏
Stunning...I have never heard of anyone who left such a massive collection of detailed memoirs about their life from the 19/20th century.
I hope you can find a knowledgeable archivist because there certainly is an amazing collection here that cries out to be professionally catalogued. Then you need to digitize the entire thing to fully preserve the frail documents.
This is so interesting as when Capt Cook arrived in the Hawaiian islands he named them the sandwich islands in honor of the 4th Earl of Sandwich who was one of his supporters. I lived in England for almost 4 years and this brings back so many memories!
I love the idea that you will preserve the history of such a strong woman for future generations.
A tip to start conserving those documents, wear gloves to prevent the oil from your hands dammaging the documents :)
Actually, there are differing opinions on handling old documents. The National Archives at Kew do not require gloves (I've handled original 1851 Census returns and seen others with much older items). Gloves make you clumsy and more likely to damage a fragile edge. The requirement is for clean and careful hands.
@@kathrynblack9152 yes but using a bone folder to help guide reduces your chances of being clumsy or causing accidental tearing. Gloves are still a better way to go.
Archivists don't use gloves. However, the acid from fingers can be destructive. Better to have clean hands. And if you need hand cream due to frequent washing, put a little on and wipe excess off before touching the records.
I think it would be so cool for you to write a biography about her one day like the Countess of Carnarvon did for Lady Almina.
I would buy it. All of the American Duchess's stories are so very interesting.
Are you a writer, Julie?
Lets not muddy the waters speaking of Fiona Herbert!
You are the right one to preserve the Mapperton heritage. Your passion is contagious.
Isn't it?! Adore her enthusiasm 💖
I’m a bit behind and just now watching this as I recover from kidney stone surgery. This is absolutely thrilling!!! What a beautiful treasure trove. Thank you for sharing your passion for Alberta’s life sweet Julie! Sending you all my best, Julie!
This is all so interesting and so much fun to see behind the scenes of such an historic and lovely home! I was born and raised in Chicago, moved to Elmhurst, Illinois as an adult and then moved to Ireland 5 years ago. Like Julie and Alberta, we Chicago women seem to be open to adventure! My circumstances are much different, living in a 2 bedroom Irish cottage in the bog - but I understand and identify with the enthusiasm these ladies have for their new home on foreign land.
Did I miss the Chicago connection for the Sturgis family? I heard much about 21 W.34th Street in NYC. Also wondered how the Sturgis family made their wealth.
👏👏 oh what a lovely adventure! Ty for sharing (Ohio girl myself 🇺🇲).
I just discovered you when I watched the cleaning of the pool. I am officially in love with all things mapperton! Thank you for sharing!
Someday, when all the other projects are done (!) you might want to fireproof the muniment room. I think it can be done without ruining any features, except you might need inner fireproof doors. You need an archivist who can digitize everything, in case of fire.
You're right you can say that again, hi how are you ?
I am in love with the history of Mapperton, it has given me great company as my husband has been ill in the hospital. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Thank you Amy! And speedy recovery for your husband.! xx
What a treasure trove of her life. I agree this would make a fabulous book
Yeah you're right, hi how are you Pam?
Or movie 🎥🍿 Maybe Emma (Julie's daughter) could play young her & Julie take over 👏👏
OMG I ❤️ the lock for the front door. How original. I am just loving your series.
It’s fascinating that Alberta was an early follower of Swami Vivekanada (sp) who credited with bringing Yoga to America and Europe. Really full circle with you being a Yoga teacher!
Kismet
Archiving and digitizing our family's records (letters, photos, etc) was a huge joy. I would love to help you, albeit with your much larger collection, but I am an American currently stuck in America. It is not difficult but it is time consuming. Once Alberta's letters, for example, are digitized it would be easier to share them with someone willing to transcribe them. It is organizing and digitizing records where I excel. If I may be of assistance let me know. By the way, the letter re: Chateau Thierry hit a cord with me. My maternal grandfather was there as an American Doughboy. I have what is left of his military artifacts. It would be amazing to delve into your amazing archives.
BTW - my maternal grandfather (b. 1899) lived near the passenger ship docks in NY until he enlisted in 1917 and, no doubt, saw the Queen Mary come and go. A little connection to Alberta.
Your excitement about the history of your Family is wonderful. I hope you continue to share your joy and history with us
We will!
Was late getting on...I really enjoy these videos. I love the history, and learning about Mapperton. I like that Julie is a Midwestern girl like I am
I love watching these! I really enjoy the stories about the historical figures related to Mapperton!
Oh I see good to know, hi how are you ?
I just found this youtube page today and i havr been up all night watching, its 5:01am here in Massachusetts. I love history of any kind. Actually i befriend many older people just to hear their stories, gosh i love stories. Love your page!!! God Bless
thank you so much!!!
That diary from when Alberta was 10yr. Is just amazing.
My grandsons are at Hinchinbrooke School........😊❤️
YOU are so genuinely passionate abt your family history & the beauty of the lives involved believe your stories must become the next Downton Abbey
Thank you so much!
Agree!!
The richest woman to marry into the British aristocracy was Consuelo Vanderbilt to the 9tj Duke of Marlborough. She was forced by her mother to marry him. The wedding took place in 1895.
British noblemen began marrying these young American girls for their money in the 1850's. You have new money American families pimping out their daughter's to the highest bidder. In exchange for acceptance into high society, the men were provided large dowries. Most were quite broke, and needed the money. There is a book about these marriages during the Guilded Ages called To Marry An English Lord. I purchased it about 30 year's ago. It provides a fascinating tale of the cultural differences between America and Britain during the era between circa mid 1850's-1910's. Some of it is quite amusing. I recommend it
Thank you Julie, So enjoyed the readings of Alberta . A child from Christmas a long time ago was amazing. Love hearing from Albertas life .
This story is absolutely beautiful 💕🙏🙏. It brings me joy as I am from Illinois! Also to note, there is a town South of Chicago Named… SANDWICH, ILLINOIS 😊😊. I’m from Sycamore, Illinois which is EXACTLY 60 Miles West of Chicago, straight down Route 64!, … You are Truly a Blessed young lady 💕🙏🙏
I really enjoyed this video! If a movie about Lady Alberta would be made I will definitely watch it.
With such an incredible archive, an entire BBC Masterpiece Classics series could be made about the 9th Countess of Sandwich. That would be an incredible show to see.
Oh I see good to know all that, Hi how are you ?
@@davemaxwell4192 Hello. I'm doing well Mr. Maxwell. How are you?
@@IrishKG Glad hearing you're doing well, I'm doing well nice meeting you here!!
Where are you chatting from if I may ask ?
I agree with you
@Kimberly
Julie, appreciate this very kindhearted tribute to Alberta.
I keep letters.
It's not given enough weight.
Priceless.
Honoring.
Mom❤️kept journals. Grateful that I found and keep many.
That era was so Beyond Gracious.
Ffor Viscountess Julie Montagu, Love hearing about Lady Alberta Sturges. I too traveled on the Queen Mary,to the U.S. and to England and back. My mother was born and grew up in Durham England.Her name ,Hannah Armstrong Snowdon and her mother's name(my grandmother )was Laura Sarah Sturgess. I Look forward to hearing more about Lady Alberta Strugess and Earl of Sandwch George Montagu. I saw the now Earl of Sandwich John E. Montagu on a "What's My Line " TV show. Thank you so much for sharing!
I’m certain you share so much with Alberta because you may have lived as her. Your resemblance is uncanny. Thank you for sharing this fascinating history, I especially enjoyed hearing the story of Alberta’s Christmas.
Wow, thank you
How fascinating- I do hope you’ve found an archivist. What treasures Alberta has left the family!
Julie oh, what a treasure you have. Amazing. Would you ever consider doing storytime segments, reading off Alberta's letters. So much in common with yourself. I think we would all love to be able to have a little part of that history. Thank you
What a great idea.
I love how you’ve shared Alberta’s history with us. I enjoy listening to you read snippets of her letters. She was quite a well spoken woman.
You have a wonderful treasure trove of letters! When you get your archivist, you should ask him what bookmarks are acid-free and safe to use with these old papers. Ask if Sticky Notes are OK to use. I have a much smaller collection of family letters, etc., and they are kept in completely acid free paper or encapsulated in Mylar. What you have is so special! Thank you for sharing them, hope you can do this again!
I saw a whole documentary on the "dollar princess" such a fascinating story that they were shunned because alot of them were new money but welcomed in England bcuz the heirs couldn't afford the upkeep on these huge estates, basically America saved England 3 times, both world wars and the economy!
There is continuing synergy between the US and England. I am so proud that we continue to see each other in that light.
That said, the Brits are damned snooty about having to marry "down."
@John Ashtone Even today. I've heard more than one American and Canadian who married a Brit speak of it. Also, prior to Harry & Meghan's wedding a black woman who married into the aristocracy experienced it. Very telling as she mentioned that she was expected to be quiet and grateful for her good fortune.
Sure, they'll take the cash influx but sneer anyway.
Right we in England 🏴 had been bombed to death 💀 for most of the 2 world war ! And America 🇺🇸 came in at the end cause of pearl harbour! Your country didn’t loose thousands of people! Men women and children 👦 please 🙏🏼 why do American 🇺🇸 men “ well some of you “ come over so arrogant! It’s always about America 🇺🇸 is better and more powerful than uk. Yes your a super powerful we get it!
@@tabitha4135
Dear Jane.
We're not just "better than the uk"
We are the last bastion of hope for the whole world.
You know it, we know it, everybody knows it.
And, we love you like family. 😀
Don't be bitter. 😘
Everything happens for a reason, you are the new Alberta, your gutsy, got balls, happy and you will help your husband to get Mapperton to the next level of where it should go. Keep going, you are doing a great job and I think you and her husband are great together. I saw you in a reality show once, and you were my favorite. Humble and great sense of humor. 🙏🏾🌺❤️ big ups from Jamaica 🇯🇲
Thank you so much for your support 🥰
I stumbled across this! Can't believe i missed this! Watching this the night before your live stream..... JUST PERFACT!!!!!!! To watch this now from 2years ago!!!! To what your journey is now.... This Story is even more amazing!!!!! Is this the moment you thought of a dissertation on her? I think a muniment room is a dream come true! I wish I was archivist..... I would fly from Michigan to help! What amazing information! Bless you!!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT for live stream!!!!!!!!
No this is a wrong but commonly held misconception. It takes about 10 business days (14 days) for a letter to get from England to America today by regular mail. Which is about how long it took in 1900. Funnily enough, internal post takes much longer now than it did in 1815. The book to read on this is Paul Johnson's The Birth of the Modern. ✌
I loved your outfit 🏵️ I think it's really great that you're highlighting Alberta's life's story and her mark on the family. It is important to appreciate how the American and British are intertwined
Nice job. It is so interesting to learn about the history of the Gilded Age and Mapperton. I love that you are preserving the archives.
Thank you so much and so pleased you enjoyed. I'm def. VERY interested in the Gilded Age!
Oh man, I work in records as my career (though I'm not an archivist, and the records I deal with are only a century worth), love history and old things, love peering at old documents, and love delving into my own ancestry (even when the stories are unbearably sad). I would love nothing more than to spend the next few decades pouring through and helping to save all that history. What people sometimes forget, is that every bit of history that we learn, used to be present-day to people, they're all the stories of real people who lived, who had a favourite sweater, spent time with friends, were grumpy if they had to get up early. It's OUR story, really, just set with a different background.
Wouldn't Alberta's life story make a great movie or even better a great drama series on the BBC? You could use the Mapperton manor as a setting. Then you have added enormous additional visitor value because visitors would want to tour the manor to revisit scenes from Alberta's life story. Which American actress to play Alberta Sturges? Meryl Streep? Amy Adams? Jessica Chastain? Julian Fellowes could write perhaps a great screenplay about the period piece. I am thinking this would be great revenue back into the manor. Julie, they are so blessed to have you preserving all this history!
O my goodness HOW VERY EXCITING !!!
I am so thrilled for you, you have hit the jackpot. Yes 100% should be made into a movie.
I feel your passion in every word.
Wow wow wow
♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thanks so much!! ❤️ Please consider subscribing if you haven't done so already!
I really feel that you have a special connection with Alberta, and I have no doubt that she would be delighted with you, and your passion in sharing, preserving and treasuring this history. No doubt she would also treasure your valuing her, and the experiences that she had. A special bond, indeed.
I wish I could have met her... Thank you for your kind words
Absolutely love hearing about Alberta so great you have all this especially the diaries
😊
It's so exciting to know that not only are there two women from America who have married into the Montagu line and have served as the Countess of Sandwich, but that they are both from Chicago/Northern Illinois like me! I come from the Northwest suburbs!
Hello there, Ive just been reading extensively about you and how you supported your husband and the family during some fairly difficult times.....the more I watch you....the more I admire your down to earth can do attitude and just want you to know that there is a woman in Sydney that admires you greatly
Julie, this was just wonderful. Thank you so much for taking the time to share. 🌷
Ever so much enjoy the details, like how the old door is locked, the doorway to the church, etc.
Bernard Shaw! ... delightful, I have an image of him close to my desk with one of my favourite quotes.
Alberta, what an amazing woman, and so beautiful. Enthralled at the prospect of learning more of her life and the times she lived in.
Love your channel, Julie. You're amazing!
Thank you so much!
An amazing collection of letters and diaries how lucky to have these and i hope you get some help to go through them all ❤
How exciting that you have this history of your antecedent. I am looking forward to learn more of Albert’s story!
Wow it's amazing how much history is in this house and I love how you present it to the world
Thank you Matthew, we'll be bringing you more about Alberta soon!
I got most of my knowledge about the Edwardian era from Downton Abbey. So I'm glad you share real history
So lovely. What an exciting project. It would be great to see some of the archives from even further back in history.
Thank you so much for sharing your home with all of us your so kind
Bless you for taking a piece of time and ethically places these places of life lost in a restored view.
Yeah you're right, hi how are you ?
@@davemaxwell4192 Maxwell now why does this name rung a bell.. um something tells me I know your last name and lineage. Give me time its coming to me with each day where stress doesn't depict my energy.
Maxwell.. Umm
By chance, is your name spelled in a noncommen 🤔 U.S. way? Maybe your name is linked the the McDonald's who choose to unlink the Steele, Saxton and Coopers?
@@coopsevy5664 lol so funny , Glad hearing you're okay , I'm doing well nice meeting you here!!
Where are you chatting from if I may ask ?
Are you there?
I’m not even halfway through with this video and you are just absolutely glowing about Alberta. I love it
Thank you! Am doing my Masters dissertation on Alberta! And will be filming a lot more very soon.
@@AmericanViscountess I have a collection of biographies and that is definitely one that I would love to have in my collection. It just needs to be written but goodness where to start!
I have loved this episode, I know it’s an older one but I’m so fascinated with history and being able to look at and read correspondence from within a family! It would be hard to tear myself away from it if I were you, and yes…her life would make such an amazing book!!
I am watching this again and listening to where things were 2 years ago. Hearing that letter about Flanders brings back memories of playing there as a child - those very areas that she describes.
So there was once a nunnery at Hinchingbrooke and Alberta was passed by 2 nuns on the staircase that weren't supposed to be there? Sounds spooky!
(I love your scarf btw!)
I was born south of Chicago in Harvey and grew up in park forest and tinleypark. Your lucky you get to live in England and Italy. I'm half Italian. Would love to visit Italy.
Such an interesting and well done video. I absolutely love that all that correspondence was saved. Such a treasure trove of family history and I so enjoyed your enthusiasm.
Many thanks!
I've just discovered you when I watched the cleaning of the pool. I'm so fascinated with your stories of Mapperton. I'm from the Caribbean and I do enjoy your videos. Thank you for entertaining us and sharing your lives with us.. I so wish I could visit Mapperton someday. I always felt you resembled Alberta when I saw the painting the first time your mother in law was giving us the tour of that part of the house. (and father in law) Love the gardens.
Thank you for your kind words, we hope you are able to come and visit us at Mapperton real soon!
@@AmericanViscountess you're welcome. I was actually watching you on the Smithsonian channel (the castle visit to Scotland). I'm catching up on all your videos. Thank you for responding and appreciating my comment. I feel appreciated now. Much love to you and your family. I love the historical accounts of everything you share. At the manor... I enjoyed hearing about the tapestries the number of fireplaces...and the chair in the library that supposedly belonged to King Charles II...etc. Lol. I'm in heaven All the best and keep it up. You're beauty brains and very charismatic.
This history has been just fascinating, thank you for taking the time to make this video so you could share it with all of us. An instant susscriber!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing stories and wonderful channel! Thank you for sharing the history and beautiful memories from time past. 💕
Wow! What a fabulous episode! So interesting! The history is amazing! You did a wonderful job explaining everything. I look forward to another one!
What an amazing collection! I'm a former archivist and hearing about this collection was fascinating. I just love reading first hand accounts of history. I recommend handling everything with gloves to avoid getting oils and dirt from your hands on the papers. I would love to read them.
This is very interesting to me. It is wonderful how you are so able to remember so much of history. It will be so nice for anyone that can take time and actually help you archive it all. That would however take time, patience etc. But certainly, if they come with a passion as you have it will not be any problem and they wil be lost in their work. How great to be working at Mapperton! The right person is out there and will all at once come forward!
Perhaps a book will be written one day yet!?
Everything about the family is very interesting! Thank you so much for allowing us in to see some of your homes and to be able to truly see how the minions were and still are. Actually, you look like Alberta Sturges a little bit! So much in common really!
Oh my gosh how exciting to go through all of that. Wonderful.
I would love to hear about the war from the personal perspectives of the earl and countess. To hear a personal account about such an epic event would be absolutely fascinating! I look forward to the book about Alberta's life. Thank you
Alberta's first-hand account of post war devastation was so vivid I felt I was there.
Pretty impressive. I visited Queen Mary 3 years ago and it's beautiful to think that I probably walked some rooms that Alberta was in before. I would definitely buy the book.
I am so tickled to find your channel. The richness of your history and your gentle, artistic ways of sharing are delightful. Thank you so much. I would be so happy to come to England. My family goes way back to a village near Stonehenge. The Vincent's God bless them.
Thank you so much!
What a treasure trove. And certainly the family is fortunate to have you to direct and oversee the curation of the materials. Your zeal is amazing. I have followed a few chateau vlogs in France, but this is a whole new level. Impressive.
Thank you so much!
I absolutely love your channel! You are quite brilliant at this presenting your beautiful, historic home. Well done 👏
Absolutely stunning collection! I loved this video.
Just found your channel. How marvelous and so very fascinating! Love that you are embracing your new life and breathing fresh air into everything there! Will be enjoying your channel and thank you so very much for sharing! 🧡🌿🌺
OMG she looks like you!!! So amazing … I would love to rewrite those, word for word, in a lovely (readable font) memoir / history book. That’s incredible! It’s so nice of you to appreciate Albertas hard work the way you do!
Absolutely love this! Thank you for sharing
Hi, just found your channel on the weekend. This is so interesting. Thank you for sharing.
So beautiful that you are working with these letters!
I love this! Thank you for Sharing. Greetings from Norway.
Thanks for watching!
That was so fascinating. I'm so glad you got to meet one of Lady Alberta's children and have got that link to the past. I hope you've found a trained archivist by now and that you will write that book one day. I've read the autobiography of the lady who was married off to the then Duke of Blenheim,not so ideal for her. Also, with my late Mum I've done my family history so I know how fascinating it is. A couple of Stately Homes in there -we worked in them,lol!
I really enjoyed that, so much so I've subscribed to your channel. I think it's great that you are willing to embrace both the place and it's history and take the time to share some of it with us. Thank you.
Hi from Northern Va, I have no idea how I discovered your channel, but have really been enjoying your videos. Hope to catch your show at some point.
Please keep up with the life of Alberta as you progress with your research. I wish I could work on a project like this as an amateur historian. As long as you feed me and keep the coffee coming I’d be reading the letters.
There will be lots more on Alberta as we go through the archive of letters than she kept. Our new venture, Mapperton Live, is well worth a subscribe! Thank you for your lovely comment.
Smile you can say that again, Hi how are you Sharon?
This was amazing. Looking forwarding to seeing more of your fabulous history.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Oh really lol that's so sweet, Hi how are you ?
Just amazing .... what also is amazing is I’m in Australia watching an American in England talking about an American and her life .... Do you have a photo of Alberta on her wedding day ?
Fabulous history! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you so very much for sharing her personal writings. I've asked to obtain my grandmother Mada's Journals I can't imagine why this was ever withheld.
I find it interesting that Alberta’s uncle-in-law was so snide about his nephew marrying an American, but I bet he wasn’t disappointed in the dowry she brought along. HBO is starting a series called “Gilded Age” and Christine Baranski is playing the matriarch of one of those “old money” families in NYC. Alberta’s story will give an interesting background when I start watching it.
I’m so glad I found your channel.
Whoa, that's a lot of history! How wonderful! Cataloging it will be quite the task but with some help I bet you can get it done. What a documentary or docudrama could be made from all that priceless treasure
I so enjoyed watching you on that bravo tv show you were my favorite. I am enjoying these videos as well. maybe your contribution to mapperton will be to archive the history, at least overseeing the process.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing this lovely history! She was beautiful ❤️!
Delightful and absolutely fascinating.
Thank you Kim 🙌
You are Alberta-the same soul!
Julie, such a wonderful episode! Just seeing your videos for the first time today. Alberta seemed like she had a fabulously full life, and lots of adventures traveling. So very sad about the war, and her first hand account of the devastation she witnessed. Wish I could help you out with all your organizing and research, to piece together her life's story. I, too, would love to read all about her life in those letter and diaries. If you ever have a book about her life, I will surely buy one. Thank you for sharing this interesting history about this lady. Debbie, Westerly, RI, USA
Yes this phenomenon happened because many of the British aristocrats (and other European aristocrats) were house poor and needed their American wives' money to save the estate. Both sides needed each other. Edith Wharton depicted this directly and indirectly in her novels.
I LOVE Edith Wharton
I just came across your CZcams channel what a pleasant surprise.I am really enjoying the history of your home wonderful thank you for sharing.
I love you Julie. Your videos are informative but fun.