Katherine Stieglitz

Katherine Stieglitz (September 27, 1898 – November 20, 1971) was the daughter of American photographer and modern art promoter Alfred Stieglitz and Emmy Stieglitz.

Early life

Katherine Stiegliz in 1905 at age of 7

Katherine, or "Kitty", was born on September 27, 1898. Her father, Alfred Stieglitz and her mother Emmy Stieglitz. With assistance from Emmy's family money, the couple was able to hire a governess, cook and a chambermaid, and, believing that Emmy was well cared-for, Stieglitz saw no reason to cut back the many hours he was spending at The Camera Club of New York and on his own photography.

While her father was enjoying significant artistic successes, Stieglitz had no similar fortune on the financial end of his work. Most months the Little Galleries cost far more to operate than the meager income from print sales, membership in the Photo-Secession was declining and even subscriptions to Camera Work began to drop off. The total income from all of these efforts now amounted to less than $400 for the whole year, forcing Stieglitz – in this case, Emmy – to make up the rest.

For years Emmy had maintained a lifestyle that was relatively extravagant for their income level. She employed a full-time governess for Kitty, insisting on traveling to Europe at least once a year, and stayed only at the best hotels. In spite of her father's concerns about his growing financial problems she insisted that the family once again travel to Europe for the summer, and in June Stieglitz, Emmy, Kitty and their governess once again sailed across the Atlantic.

Katherine Stieglitz autochorme taken when she was 10 years old (1910).

In 1924 her father got divorced with her mother, Emmy Stieglitz, and in 1928 was married to Georgia O'Keeffe in order to help soothe Kitty, who at that time was being treated in a sanatorium for depression and hallucinations.[1]

Marriage

Kitty met Milton Sprague Stearns, a Harvard graduate, at a summer camp and decided to get married in June. Her father was upset at the moment since he wasn't invited to the wedding. Milton's parents neither assisted to their wedding. Stearn's family had two children, Alfred Stieglitz and Emmeline Obermeyer. Her husband died on July 24, 1957.[2]

Death

Kitty died on November 20, 1971 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roaxnna Robinson (1989). Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life. NY: Harper. pp. 195–96, 278–279.
  2. ↑ Full Bloom: The Art and Life of Georgia O'Keeffe
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