My American Heiress Dissertation - Royal Connections & This Letter Moved Me to Tears

Grab a cup of tea as I stream live digging through the archives located here at our Manor House of the 9th Countess of Sandwich, Albert Sturges, an American like me who came over during The Gilded Age. Lucky for me, Alberta SAVED everything! Each time I research a new box of her letters, diaries and photos, I will stream live as I write my 25,000 word dissertation.

In the process of my research, I am raising funds ( please refer to my specific goal here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juliejmontagu ) to restore the muniment (archive) room at our Historic House, Mapperton (www.mapperton.com), purchase digitising solutions, fireproof storage and supplies for rehousing archives and if I'm successful in achieving these goals, allow my research and her letters to made public.

I am currently researching for my Masters dissertation whereby the topic is Alberta Sturges, 9th Countess of Sandwich, who was an American just like me, from Chicago just like me, had 4 children just like me AND and this is the BIG ONE - was a devoted yogi, just like me! That fact in itself was extraordinary during this period as most wives of nobility were interested in social gatherings, Alberta was not. The question now remains, did she REALLY want to marry or did she have her sights set on becoming a nun!

However, Alberta did marry George Montagu (later 9th Earl of Sandwich) on 25th July 1905 during the 'Gilded Age'. But why? Why didn't she follow her dreams of life of service to others?

I want to dig deeper and find out why.

Alberta was an American Heiress who was born into a wealthy family, the Sturges family. Her grandfather Solomon Sturges had the foresight and follow-through to build what at the time was the world’s largest grain elevators (Towers A and B) and to parlay money made from this into banking, railroads, and other industries, creating vast fortunes in the process.

Alberta died in 1951 but throughout her life, she archived every letter she received and also asked for letters that she wrote to various family members to be returned to her after they died, in particular, her mother Betty MacLeod, here aunt Josephine MacLeod and her brother Hollister Sturges. She has left me a wonderful gift (and puzzle) with many of the pieces waiting to be put back together.

In the process of my research, I am raising funds ( please refer to my specific goal here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juliejmontagu ) to restore the muniment (archive) room at our Historic House, Mapperton (www.mapperton.com), purchase digitising solutions, fireproof storage and supplies for rehousing archives and if I'm successful in achieving these goals, allow my research and her letters to made public.

For 1 cup of coffee, you will receive an email THANK YOU from me.

For 3-5 cups of coffee ($15 - $25), you will receive an email THANK YOU from me and a digital 'I HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN' certificate once we reach the ALL the Goals.

For 10 cups of coffee ($50), you will receive an email THANK YOU from me, a digital 'I HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN' certificate once we reach ALL the goals, and a digital copy sent via email of Alberta's letter referencing her visit to Mapperton in 1905.

For 20 cups of coffee ($100), you will receive an email THANK YOU from me, a digital 'I HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN' certificate once we reach ALL the goals, a digital copy sent via email of Alberta's letter referencing her visit to Mapperton in 1905 and an American Viscountess notebook and pen sent via Royal Mail.

For 50 or more cups of coffee ($250 and above) you will receive an email THANK YOU from me, a digital 'I HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN' certificate once we reach ALL the goals, a digital copy sent via email of Alberta's letter referencing her visit to Mapperton in 1905, an American Viscountess notebook and pen sent via Royal Mail and YOUR NAME will be inscribed on a THANK YOU plaque hung in the Muniment Room at Mapperton once the restoration is complete and all digitising solutions, storage and supplies are purchased.
For more information about Alberta and a tour of our archive/muniment room - watch this video: https://youtu.be/z74LoE7MlnM

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