Harriette Rebecca Crosby

Who was Miss Harriette Rebecca Crosby?

Miss Harriette Rebecca Crosby was a 39-year-old American first-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on October 8, 1872, in Montague, Michigan, she was a talented musician who studied in Paris and later pursued her musical interests in Los Angeles. Harriette’s life was marked by personal tragedies, including a failed marriage, an illicit affair, and the loss of her father in the Titanic sinking.

Early Life and Family

A Privileged Upbringing

Harriette was born into a well-to-do family in Michigan. Her parents were:

Edward Gifford Crosby (born 1842)
Catherine Elizabeth Halstead (born 1847)

Both her parents were natives of New York who had moved to Michigan and married in 1868. Harriette was one of three children:

Martha (1870-1880)
Harriette Rebecca (1872-1941)
Frederic Gifford (1881-1966)

Education and Musical Pursuits

As a young woman, Harriette showed a keen interest in music. Her passion led her to Paris, where she studied alongside her friend Lily Brand. During her time in the French capital, Harriette received tuition from the noted pianist Louis Philippe, honing her skills and immersing herself in the vibrant cultural scene of early 20th century Paris.

Personal Life: Triumphs and Tribulations

A Failed Marriage

On November 8, 1893, at the age of 21, Harriette married Marvin Persons Gillis, a salesman from Flint, Michigan. The couple settled in Detroit, living close to the Henry Ford factory. However, their union was short-lived and reportedly unhappy. In 1897, just four years after their wedding, Harriette and Marvin divorced. The marriage had remained childless, and Gillis was reportedly guilty of several acts of “extreme cruelty.” Following the divorce, Harriette reverted to her maiden name.

An Illicit Affair and Unexpected Motherhood

While attending a party in Paris, Harriette met Edouard Bourdois. The two became lovers, and Harriette later found herself pregnant with his child. The relationship’s duration remains unclear, and they never married. On February 11, 1912, Harriette gave birth to a daughter, Andrée Catherine, in England.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ill-Fated Ship

On April 10, 1912, Harriette boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as a first-class passenger. Her ticket details were as follows:

Ticket number: 112901
Cost: £26 11s
Cabin: B-26

Harriette’s parents were also on board, occupying cabin B-22.

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg, Harriette was in her cabin. Her father alerted her to the problem, rousing her from sleep. Harriette and her mother dressed quickly and made their way to the boat deck. They were rescued in one of the earlier lifeboats to leave the ship from the starboard side.

Tragically, while Harriette and her mother survived the sinking, her father, Captain Crosby, was among the lost. His body was later recovered.

Life After the Titanic

Criticism of the Evacuation

Upon arrival in New York aboard the Carpathia, Harriette and her mother were met by Frank Walsh of the Crosby Company. They traveled to Chicago, where Harriette’s brother Frederic greeted them. In an interview with the Chicago Record-Herald on April 23, 1912, Harriette criticized the conduct of the Titanic’s crew during the evacuation. She opined that they were reckless, placing women and children into lifeboats without making basic safety checks, such as ensuring the lifeboat plugs were in place.

Reuniting with Her Daughter

In May 1913, Harriette and her mother returned to Europe to fetch Andrée, who had been left in the care of a nanny at a Paris boarding school. The family returned to the USA aboard the Laconia, arriving in Boston.

Later Life and Pursuits

Harriette lived for many years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her 1920 passport described her as:

Height: 5’ 8"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Grey
Face shape: Full
Chin: Round
Nose: Straight

By the 1940s, Harriette had moved to Los Angeles, California, where she continued to pursue her musical interests and move in artistic circles.

Legacy and Final Resting Place

Harriette Rebecca Crosby passed away on February 11, 1941, at the age of 68 (sixty-eight) in Los Angeles General Hospital. Interestingly, her death certificate listed her “husband” as “Edward B. Boudoise,” likely a misspelling of Edouard Bourdois, the father of her child.

Harriette’s final wish was to be interred with her parents. However, her daughter Andrée could not initially afford the cost of reopening the crypt. As a result:

Harriette’s body was cremated
Her ashes were interred in an adjacent crypt in Fairview Mausoleum, Milwaukee
In 1995, the mausoleum, which had fallen into disrepair, was opened
In 1997, the remains of Captain Crosby, his wife, and daughter were re-interred together at Graceland Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Harriette Rebecca Crosby’s life story is a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the enduring impact of that fateful night on their lives and legacies.