CHOATE, MRS
Neg. No: 2996
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 13-05-1902

Sitter: Mrs Joseph Hodges Choate, née Caroline Dutcher Sterling; daughter of Frederick A. Sterling of Cleveland, Ohio; m. (1861) Joseph Hodges Choate (1832-1917), US Ambassador to Great Britain 1899-1905.

Mrs Joseph Hodges Choate, née Caroline Dutcher Sterling (1837-1929), was the wife of Joseph Hodges Choate, US ambassador to the United Kingdom 1899-1905.

Distressed by the lack of educational opportunities available to young women in New York, Caroline Choate became a leader in the campaign to found secondary schools and colleges for women. In 1884 she became a trustee of the Brearley School—one of the first schools in New York City to give girls the training in Greek, Latin, and mathematics then required for admission to a liberal arts college.

Mrs Choate was naturally considered the leader of American society in London, and this must have been helped by the fact that her husband was known as “the wittiest citizen of the United States”. Joseph Hodges Choate, who wrote very little about his wife in his published correspondence, did pay her compliments, it seems, whenever possible. An anecdote repeated in The Sketch of 1902 goes as follows: “If you were not yourself, who would you be?” the ambassador was asked. “Why, Mrs. Choate’s second husband!” came the instant reply. Perhaps his love for her explains the impressive jewels she wears in this portrait: a massive diamond corsage brooch, a necklace of rather large pearls and diamonds, and choker of seed pearls.

A few weeks after this portrait, King Edward and Queen Alexandra dined at the American Embassy in London, the first time this honour had been granted by a British Sovereign to the representative of a foreign power.

Obviously very proud of his wife, the ambassador wrote to his daughter about Mrs Choate’s success at Court: “I enclose an account of last night’s ‘Drawing Room Court’ the first of the new reign. There was a great crowd, about 800 passing before the King & Queen... You will be glad to know that Mama looked very well, that her dress was very pretty, and that she stood it as well as anybody - though of course it was most fatiguing - much better than some of her more embonpoint colleagues who almost dropped with fatigue. In fact one of them did sit down - hiding behind Countess —’s amble zone, until Sir Wm. Colville came and insisted on her going out or standing up.”

The Sketch Coronation Number, 13 August 1902, p 133
Mrs. Choate, the lady who is now acting as hostess to our innumerable American Coronation guests, possesses the great distinction of being the wife of the wittiest citizen of the United States. Though an old story, the pretty compliment paid by Mr. Choate to the Ambassadress is well worth repeating. “If you were not yourself, who would you be?” was asked of the Ambassador. Why, Mrs. Choate’s second husband!” came the instant reply. The Ambassador and Ambassadress had a unique compliment paid them by King Edward and Queen Alexandra. Early in June, their Majesties dined at the American Embassy, an honour never before granted by a British Sovereign to the representative of a foreign power.

Date: 13 May 1902.

Occasion: -

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179, New Bond Street, London.

Descr: FL standing with fan.

Costume: -

Costume Supplier: -

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 2.

Copyright: V&A

Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

Reproduced: See info on other image in series cho2996b.html