Forget the Vanderbilts — The Real Heiress Who Changed America in the Gilded Age Was a Saint
- Mallory Smyth
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
Julian Fellowes should consider adding St. Katharine Drexel to the show's cast — an example of what it means to find something worth more than gold.
From grand English halls to lavish New England ballrooms, director Julian Fellowes has mastered the art of escapism. When we can no longer stand living with the low-grade anxiety of little privacy, constant noise and ever-present smartphones, we can, at least for a moment, mentally go back to simpler times.
First, Fellowes drew us into the story of the Crawley family, their servants, and their beautiful estate in Downton Abbey. Then, in 2022, he brought us The Gilded Age. This historical drama offers the same delightful break from modern life, only with more opulent displays of wealth, shameless social climbing and American accents.
The Gilded Age revolves around New York socialites during the oil and railroad boom of the late 1800s, when a few families amassed some of the greatest fortunes in history. The show is an entertaining, mostly accurate glimpse into the lives of the nineteenth century's rich and famous as they attend extravagant balls, spend their summers at mansions by the sea and socialize at exclusive opera houses.
And just like in Downton Abbey, Fellowes’ fictional characters are based on actual historical figures. The Gilded Age follows the Van Rhijn family, inspired by prominent Dutch American families such as the Livingstons, and the Russells, inspired by the famed Vanderbilts. Other families who made their mark during the Gilded Age also include the Astors and the Morgans, who appear in the show as themselves.
But of all these families, so well represented in The Gilded Age, one is missing. There is another family worth remembering, not for their immense wealth, but for what they did with it. There is another heiress whose life took a very different turn from her peers, and Julian Fellowes would enhance the show by creating a character in her image. Not only would this character offer a different perspective on handling wealth, but she would also provide a creative narrative that invites the audience to think more deeply about life’s purpose. The character I’m suggesting would be based on the Philadelphia native and America’s second canonized saint, St. Katharine Drexel.
Many Catholics have heard of St. Katharine Drexel, or Drexel University in Philadelphia. But how many of us know the details of her powerful story? I didn’t. I only knew she came from a wealthy family and eventually became a saint. I didn’t know how wealthy she was or what made her a saint. When I took the time to learn her story, I was blown away. Our Catholic inheritance comes with its very own American heiress!
Katherine Drexel was born into a family whose wealth and status placed them in the same tier as the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. Her grandfather, Anthony Drexel, cofounded Drexel, Morgan & Co. with J.P. Morgan, and eventually became one of the most important financiers in the country.
Similar to the portrayals in the Gilded Age, Katharine’s lifestyle allowed her to stay at her family’s multiple estates, enter society with a grand debutante ball and receive her education from the best tutors in the country.
The Drexels, however, differed from others in their social class in one very important way. While other families saw their wealth as a status symbol, the Drexels saw it as a gift from God. They were devout Catholics who loved God and understood that everything ultimately belongs to him.
As a young woman, Katharine saw an example of her father’s deep faith. She witnessed him pray for half an hour every day and watched as he gave generously to orphanages, hospitals and schools. But while Katharine’s father modeled faithful generosity, her stepmother invited her to participate in it personally. Each week, they provided food and clothing to anyone who came to their door, amounting to $20,000 given to personal needs each year. Katharine often heard her say, “Never let the poor have cold feet,” and she took those words to heart.
In 1885, Katharine’s father died, and at twenty-nine, she inherited seven million dollars ($250 million today). The world expected her to live like other wealthy heiresses who dressed in the latest fashions, married well and participated in society, but God had other plans. Katharine’s parents had left her much more than money. They left her a legacy of faith and obedience, and Katharine decided to choose a different path.
In 1889, after an audience with Pope Leo XIII, prayer and spiritual direction, Katharine decided to enter a convent and give away her seven million dollars.
Katharine had received a life of which most people can only dream, and she decided to lay it all at her Lord’s feet. In response, God met Katharine’s needs and used her generosity to reach countless souls. By the end of her life, she had founded a new religious order, built schools for minorities, created a home for orphans out of her family’s estate, fought segregation and so much more. All the while, she preached God’s love to anyone who would listen.
And so, Julian Fellowes, if you ever read this, please consider creating a character based on this saint from the Gilded Age. We love watching the young characters such as Marian Brooke, Gladys Russell and Larry Russell come of age. But it is clear that their lives are dictated by the invisible master of money. If they don’t have it, they need it. If they do have it, they need more of it to keep up with the demands of their social class. Wouldn’t it be interesting to introduce a character who finds something worth more than gold? Might it be thought-provoking to introduce a narrative that invites the audience to consider their own ideas of money and generosity?
St. Katharine Drexel, more than an heiress, was a free woman. Because she loved God, she was not held captive by the trappings of wealth or the expectations of society. Through her obedience, God took all she gave and used it for his eternal purposes. She is the character missing from the Gilded Age.
But since Julian Fellowes will most likely not read this or create a character based on this beloved saint, we can learn from St. Katharine’s powerful legacy. We live in a world that is more complex but not so different from the gilded past. Jesus told us we cannot serve God and mammon, and yet mammon longs to reign over each of our hearts. Let us take our inspiration from the woman who gave it all and choose to live with free hearts and open hands.
