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flag photo of Mary Phelps JACOB   Photo of Mary Phelps JACOB Mary Phelps  JACOB

Born
20 April 1891 New Rochelle, New York, USA
Died
24 January 1970 Manhattan, New York, USA

Parents & Family of Mary Phelps JACOB

Explore parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and the family connections surrounding Mary Phelps JACOB.

Grandparents
Spouse & Children


Born: 20 April 1891 in New Rochelle, New York, USA



Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Mary Phelps  married  Richard Rogers PEABODY 9 January 1915 in Mamaroneck Town, Westchester, New York, USA .  The couple had (at least) 2 children.
They divorced. Richard Rogers PEABODY  was born 23 January 1892 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA (East, North, South) (Allston) (Readville) (Roslindale).  Richard Rogers died 26 April 1936 in Manchester, Vermont, USA (Manchester Center). 

Mary Phelps  married  (2) Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY 9 September 1922 .  Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY  was born 4 June 1898 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA (East, North, South) (Allston) (Readville) (Roslindale).  Henry Sturgis Grew died 10 December 1929 in Manhattan, New York, USA (New York City) (New Amsterdam) (Washington Heights).  Henry Sturgis Grew was the child of Stephen Van Rensselaer CROSBY and Henrietta Marian GREW.

Mary Phelps  married  (3) Selbert Saffold YOUNG 24 March 1937 in Richmond, Virginia, USA .  They divorced. Selbert Saffold YOUNG  was born 22 April 1910 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.  Selbert Saffold died 27 October 1971 in Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA.  Selbert Saffold was the child of William Cheney YOUNG and Selberta L SAFFOLD.

Mary Phelps JACOB died 24 January 1970 in Manhattan, New York, USA .



a.k.a. Caresse Crosby


photo/ portrait (above) from wikipedia.org

Details of the family tree of Mary appear below.

WORK & OCCUPATION

Occupation

Recorded occupation: Publisher, activist, writer, inventor of the modern bra

Spouse & Children of Mary Phelps JACOB

Mary Phelps JACOB married flag male ancestor Richard Rogers PEABODY
Marriage date: 9 January 1915
Marriage place: Mamaroneck Town, Westchester, New York, USA
Marriage notes:
They divorced in 1922.

Children of Richard Rogers PEABODY and Mary Phelps JACOB

flag male ancestor William Jacob PEABODY
Born: 4 February 1916, Manhattan, New York, USA
Died: 25 January 1955, Paris, France


flag female ancestor Poleen Wheatland PEABODY
Born: 21 July 1917, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: 20 November 1996, Brooklyn, New York, USA



Mary Phelps JACOB married flag photo of Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY  Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY
Marriage date: 9 September 1922
Marriage place:
Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY was the child of Stephen Van Rensselaer CROSBY and Henrietta Marian GREW

Children of Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY and Mary Phelps JACOB

No children are currently listed for this couple.


Mary Phelps JACOB married flag male ancestor Selbert Saffold YOUNG
Marriage date: 24 March 1937
Marriage place: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Selbert Saffold YOUNG was the child of William Cheney YOUNG and Selberta L SAFFOLD

Marriage notes:
They divorced in 1939.

Children of Selbert Saffold YOUNG and Mary Phelps JACOB

No children are currently listed for this couple.



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Life & Records

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BirthBirth — 1891
20 April 1891
New Rochelle, New York, USA
Biography
Born on April 20, 1891, in New Rochelle, New York, Mary Phelps Jacob was an American socialite, inventor, and publisher who played a significant role in the history of fashion.

Mary came from a wealthy and well-connected family, giving her a privileged upbringing. In 1910, at the age of 19, she married Richard Peabody, but the marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1912. Later that year, Mary found herself preparing for a debutante ball, and as was customary at the time, she needed something to wear under her gown.

Here comes the interesting twist in Mary's story. Dissatisfied with the traditional corsets of the era, she decided to create her own solution. With the help of her maid and a few handkerchiefs, ribbons, and cord, Mary fashioned a more comfortable and less restrictive undergarment. This makeshift contraption not only served its purpose but also caught the attention of those around her.

Recognizing the potential of her creation, Mary patented her design in...Read full story


Invention In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first AM radio broadcast on December 24th. This event marked a significant advancement in radio technology, paving the way for the modern broadcasting industry.
1913 - The bra is invented (Mary Phelps Jacob, United States)
'... Mary Phelps Jacob, a young New York socialite who became exasperated with the antiquated corsets after finding it impossible to prevent the support rods from poking out from underneath the fabric of her evening gown. Determined to create a more comfortable, less cumbersome alternative, Jacob took two silk handkerchiefs and, with help from her maid, sewed them together using some pink ribbon and cord.

The resulting undergarment was soft and light, and it conformed to the wearer’s anatomy far more naturally than the traditional corsets. Soon requests poured in from family, friends and even strangers, all of whom wanted to purchase the new accessory. Recognizing the immense potential of her invention, Jacob quickly patented the 'Backless Brassiere' and began selling the units under the name 'Caresse Crosby.'

Jacob's design was the first brassiere to enjoy widespread use, but its popularity did not peak until World War I, when the U.S. government requested that women stop...Read full story


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women-inventors.com
marriage1915 Marriage / Partner
Mary Phelps JACOB and Richard Rogers PEABODY 9 January 1915, Mamaroneck Town, Westchester, New York, USA

She was 23 years old.
1916 Birth of Child
William Jacob PEABODY was born 4 February 1916, Manhattan, New York, USA (New York City) (New Amsterdam) (Washington Heights)

Mary Phelps was 24 years old.
1917 Birth of Child
Poleen Wheatland PEABODY was born 21 July 1917, Brooklyn, New York, USA (Flatlands) (Flatbush) (Coney Island)

Mary Phelps was 26 years old.
marriage1922 Marriage / Partner
Mary Phelps JACOB and Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY 9 September 1922,

She was 31 years old.
News1929 - October 29 - Black Tuesday - Stock market crash - The Great Depression Begins - It lasted until 1941 (WW2)
1929 Death of Spouse/Partner
Henry Sturgis Grew CROSBY died 10 December 1929, Manhattan, New York, USA (New York City) (New Amsterdam) (Washington Heights)
Invention 1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)
1936 Death of Spouse/Partner
Richard Rogers PEABODY died 26 April 1936, Manchester, Vermont, USA (Manchester Center)
marriage1937 Marriage / Partner
Mary Phelps JACOB and Selbert Saffold YOUNG 24 March 1937, Richmond, Virginia, USA

She was 45 years old.
Invention 1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Invention The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.
1955 Death of Child
William Jacob PEABODY died 25 January 1955, Paris, France

Mary Phelps was 63 years old.
News1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. The crisis is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. It began when American spy planes discovered the missiles, leading to a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and intense negotiations. The crisis ended when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey.
News1963 - I Have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963.
DeathDeath — 1970
24 January 1970
Manhattan, New York, USA
She died at the age of 78.

Postcards and Memories of Manhattan, New York, USA (New York City) (New Amsterdam) (Washington Heights)

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RECORD HISTORY

Record added: 9/30/2022 9:39:31 AM
Last updated: 6/7/2024 3:34:01 PM

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New Rochelle, New York, USA

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