The Chinese tea house that bankrolled women’s voting rights in America

Alva Belmont’s Chinese Tea House Suffrage Fundraising Campaign

When Alva Vanderbilt Belmont lost her husband in 1908, she found a new cause: votes for women.

She built a red and black Chinese Tea House at her Marble House estate in 1913, inspired by news that Chinese women had won voting rights.

The grand octagonal structure, which sat over 100 guests, soon became a hub for suffrage work.

In 1914, Alva hosted the “Conference of Great Women” there, charging guests to attend and serving meals on custom “Votes for Women” china made in England.

These teacups and plates, sold for 25 cents each, helped fund the movement that would soon change America.

The Tea House still stands at Marble House in Rhode Island, its walls hiding Chinese proverbs about women’s power.

Grief Turned a Society Queen into a Suffrage Champion

Oliver Belmont died suddenly at Brookholt mansion in June 1908 from a botched appendix surgery. His widow Alva went to a talk by suffragist Ida Husted Harper soon after losing her husband.

The talk drew her into the women’s rights movement, especially after meeting Anna Shaw, who ran the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

Alva reopened her fancy Marble House in 1909 after living at Belcourt Castle during her second marriage.

The rich socialite who once ruled Gilded Age parties became a committed political activist ready to use her money for women’s rights.

Chinese Women Got Voting Rights Before Americans

The Chinese Revolution of 1911 shocked American suffragists when Sun Yat-sen promised women voting rights.

News about Chinese women getting political rights spread through American newspapers, making 1912 “the year of the Chinese suffragist.”

White American suffrage groups followed these stories closely, feeling both excited and ashamed that Chinese women might vote before them. The news pushed American women to fight harder.

Suffragist Florence Ivins made a poster that boldly stated “The People of China Have Enfranchised Their Women.

Alva Built an Ocean-View Tea House for Political Meetings

Alva hired the Hunt & Hunt brothers to design a Chinese tea house at Marble House in 1912.

Richard and Joseph Hunt based their design on 12th-century Sung dynasty temples, creating a striking red and black building on the seaside cliffs.

Workers finished it in 1913, making a space that could fit over 100 guests with a wooden deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Two inside panels showed Chinese sayings about women’s power, which Alva likely picked from books of proverbs.

Special China Plates Spread the Suffrage Message at Dinner

Alva ordered a full set of “Votes for Women” dishes from John Maddock & Sons of England. The set included plates, cups, saucers, creamers, celery plates, soup bowls, and serving pieces.

Each white ironstone piece had blue script “Votes for Women” lettering around the rim. Alva used this china at both her Marble House events and at the Political Equality Association office.

The group sold creamers for 25 cents at their suffrage lunchroom in New York City to raise money.

Newport Society Buzzed About the "Conference of Great Women"

Alva told the New York Times about her “Conference of Great Women” for summer 1914. She charged $1 for grounds entry and $5 for mansion entry, with all money going to suffrage work.

The event timing matched her daughter Consuelo’s visit from England and the tea house opening. Alva booked famous speakers like Julia Ward Howe, the oldest living suffragist, and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw.

She turned Marble House into the “summer-publicity center of the nation” to get lots of press for women’s voting rights.

The Duchess of Marlborough Came Home to Support Mom’s Cause

Consuelo Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Marlborough, came from England to speak at her mother’s conference. The Duchess talked about American suffrage and the prison reform work she did in Britain.

Reporters rushed to see this famous socialite’s daughter speaking for women’s rights. The conference followed the same format as Alva’s successful 1909 Marble House suffrage gathering.

Alva knew how to mix high-society glamour with serious political activism, using her daughter’s title to draw attention.

Newport’s Rich Abandoned the Beach for Suffrage Talks

About 1,000 people showed up at Marble House in summer 1914 for the three-day conference. Many came from “the cottage colony,” Newport’s wealthy summer residents.

Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, Mrs. Howard Cushing, and other society figures came instead of going to their usual social spots. Cars lined Bellevue Avenue as women in flowing chiffon arrived for the talks.

Bailey’s Beach and the Casino sat empty as society women chose suffrage speeches over their usual fun activities.

Famous Women Took the Stage for Voting Rights

Julia Ward Howe gave the main speech as the movement’s 95-year-old leader. Dr.

Anna Howard Shaw spoke as head of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The Duchess of Marlborough gave a featured talk connecting American and British suffrage efforts.

Speakers covered broader “betterment” issues beyond just voting rights.

The lineup mixed rich supporters with veteran suffrage organizers, bringing different views to the fight for women’s rights.

Fancy Lunches Served on Political Dinnerware

The “Votes for Women” plates appeared at formal lunches during the 1914 Conference of Great Women. Servers in the tea house brought meals on the special Maddock dinnerware throughout the conference.

Alva also hosted a separate July tea party at Marble House featuring the special china service. Guests got teacups and saucers as gifts from both events.

The china created conversation during elegant dining, reinforcing the suffrage message while women enjoyed their meals.

Newspapers Loved the Story but Activists Had Mixed Feelings

National newspapers covered the conference a lot, focusing on the Duchess of Marlborough’s speech. One reporter noted, “All the world that read the newspapers knew that society was going in for suffrage.

” Some attendees felt let down by the results. Rose Schneiderman said, “I was furious with myself for attending.

” Florence Kelley wrote a thank-you note praising Belmont’s efforts.

Critics called the conference a publicity stunt rather than serious political organizing, but the press coverage still spread the suffrage message.

Alva’s China Became the Most Famous Suffrage Souvenir in America

The plates continued their work at the Political Equality Association lunchroom in New York City. Working women ate 25-cent meals and 10-cent sandwiches on “Votes for Women” china.

Men also came to the lunchroom and seemed unbothered by the suffrage message on their dinnerware. The original Maddock pieces became the most widely distributed suffrage memorabilia in America.

The tea house and china showed how Alva successfully combined her wealth, activism, and publicity skills to advance women’s voting rights.

Visiting Marble House, Rhode Island

Marble House at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport shows you Alva Vanderbilt Belmont’s fight for women’s voting rights.

She built a Chinese Tea House in 1912-1913 and held the Conference of Great Women in 1914, serving meals on “Votes for Women” china plates to raise money for suffrage. Admission costs $25 for adults and $10 for kids 6-17.

You can book afternoon tea at the Tea House through Resy.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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