Gertrude (Vanderbilt) Whitney (1875-1942)

Gertrude was a talented sculptor as well a patron of the arts and collector. In 1931, she founded the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. In 1934, she famously sued for the custody of her niece, Gloria Vanderbilt (1924-2019), in a battle that gripped America. She won, but although life became more stable for her niece, Gertrude was a cold woman and they mainly communicated through their lawyers.