Dispensing Beauty in New York and Beyond: The Triumphs and Tragedies of Harriet Hubbard Ayer Book

Preface 7

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction 11

Part I Chicago's Founding Families

l The Hubbards 15

2 Hubbard and Ayer Families Unite 20

3 The Great Chicago Fire 29

Paris 32

4 Grown Up in Chicago 35

The Portraits 41

5 A Wrecked Society Queen 48

Failure of John V Ayer Sons 52

6 From Queen to Clerk 55

7 The Villain: James M. Seymour 60

8 The Famous Authoress Blanche Howard 67

9 Divorce 73

Part II Founding the Cosmetic Company in New York City

10 Crafting Récamier Preparations 81

An Advertising Genius 87

Vita Nuova 89

International Fame 92

Celebrity Endorsements 93

Other Products 96

Supporters 99

Work Ethic 100

11 Trouble Behind the Scenes 102

Part III Trials and Tribulations

12 The Trials of Mrs. Ayer 109

Ayer v. Seymour 110

Lutie Mason Frenzel v. Harriet Hubbard Ayer 119

Ayer v. Sypher 121

Ayer v. Ayer: Custody Suit 121

Conclusion of Ayer v. Seymour 124

After-the-Trial Tribulations 125

Part IV Insanity and Incarceration

13 In the Matter of Harriet Hubbard Ayer, a Lunatic 131

14 Escape and Recuperation 143

The Demise of the Récamier Company 148

Part V Harriet Hubbard Ayer, Journalist

15 A Reporter for the World 153

16 The Women's Pages 161

Rainy Daisies 171

17 Recipes for Health and Beauty 174

18 Death and Aftermath 183

Epilogue 187

Notes 195

Selected Bibliography 219

About the Author 223