A few years ago I wrote an essay for the Adirondack Life Magazine lamenting the treatment of Heloise Durant Rose, aka Ella Durant in the historical record of the famous Durant family. So I thought of doing something about it and when I signed up to be an editor on Wikipedia and write her bio wouldn't you know! Someone already did! And they included my novels that reflect her life story. I firmly believe that the work I have done chronicling my research via this blog has increased awareness of her place i the Durant family history. Thank you to all who have read my blogs, followed up with research tips, told me about the scrapbooks in the attic, sent pictures, and family anecdotes. This was truly a public history research project.
She's on the cover of my second novel in the trilogy. I've written articles about how hard it has been to find information about her. She was not even buried with her son and the rest of the Durant family in the Durant Mausoleum at Green Wood Cemetery. Finally, someone tracked down Ella Durant Rose's obituary and posted it online here. It is from the St. Petersburg Times 1943. She is buried at St. Bartholomews. What 's still unclear is whether she is buried at the St. Barts in Florida or New York City, where she was married. If anyone finds out please let me know. |
AuthorSheila Myers Professor at Cayuga Community College in Upstate New York. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter!
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