Edith Rockefeller McCormick




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ClassGraphic Discover the fascinating life of Edith Rockefeller McCormick, one of Chicago's most unconventional Gilded Age heiresses. Using Andrea Friederici Ross's biography Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick (Southern Illinois University Press, 2020),  this seven week study group explores Edith's remarkable journey from privileged daughter of John D. Rockefeller to independent thinker, patron of the arts, and social reformer. Participants will examine Edith's marriage into the influential McCormick family, her role in shaping Chicago's cultural landscape, and her groundbreaking interest in psychology and personal development. Through lively discussion, historic photographs, and contemporary accounts, the study group will explore the challenges Edith faced as a woman seeking autonomy during the early twentieth century. Topics for discussion will include Chicago society and the Gold Coast, the McCormick family legacy, Edith's connection to Carl Jung and modern psychology, her support of the arts, and the personal choices that earned her the reputation of a "rogue" Rockefeller. Perfect for history enthusiasts, Chicago lovers, and readers interested in powerful women who challenged social expectations, this study group offers a fresh look at one of the city's most intriguing and overlooked figures.
 

Class Details

7 Session(s)
Weekly - Thu

Location
Wieboldt Hall

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition:  $0.00

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Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
9/10/2026 - 10/22/2026 Weekly - Thu 01:15 PM - 03:15 PM Chicago, Wieboldt Hall  Map Laurie Toth  ; Timothy Atkins