Luhan, Mabel Dodge (1879-1962)
Item
Title
Luhan, Mabel Dodge (1879-1962)
Luhan, Mabel Evans Dodge Sterne (1879-1962)
Ganson, Mabel (1879-1962)
Contributor
Raisch, Elly
birthday
1879-02-26
Birthplace
Buffalo, NY
Death Date
1962-08-13
Occupation
Patron
Author
Biographical Text
Mabel Dodge Luhan was a patron of the arts who founded a literary colony in Taos, New Mexico. Luhan was born to Charles Ganson and Sarah Cook, and had a privileged youth due to her father’s wealth as a banker. In 1896, aged 17, Luhan was able to travel throughout the United States and Europe in between her studies at Washington D.C.’s Chevy Chase Junior College. Later in 1905 Luhan would begin to host artists and writers such as Gertrude Stein, Andre Gide, Carl Van Vechten, and Charles Demuth in Florence and New York while traveling between countries, continuing to do so for nearly a decade. In 1916, Luhan became a columnist for the Hearst organization in New York, though she would soon turn her attention to the western United States. After frequent visits to Santa Barbara, California, Luhan would eventually move to Taos, New Mexico in 1917. Here she would become involved with the local artist colony, hosting notable people such as Ansel Easton Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe. Today, Luhan’s Taos home is a National Historic Landmark known as the Mabel Dodge Luhan House.
Luhan was married four times throughout her life. Her first husband, Karl Evans, died two years after their marriage in 1900. Her second husband was architect Edwin Dodge, whom she married in 1904 and divorced in 1916. Later that same year, Luhan married painter Maurice Sterne, and the two remained together until 1921. Finally, in 1923, Luhan would marry Tony Lujan, with whom she would remain for the rest of her life.
Luhan was married four times throughout her life. Her first husband, Karl Evans, died two years after their marriage in 1900. Her second husband was architect Edwin Dodge, whom she married in 1904 and divorced in 1916. Later that same year, Luhan married painter Maurice Sterne, and the two remained together until 1921. Finally, in 1923, Luhan would marry Tony Lujan, with whom she would remain for the rest of her life.
