Lady Gregory (Roxborough, Ireland, 1852 - 1932, Coole, Ireland)
Letter and Clipping of Obituary for Robert Gregory to Isabella Stewart Gardner from Coole Park, Gort, Galway, Ireland, 14 February 1918
Ink on card stock
Macknight Room
Commentary
This letter is one of sixteen from Augusta Gregory, also known as “Lady Gregory,” who was an Irish dramatist, folklorist, and theatre manager. Lady Gregory and Isabella shared a love of the stage and probably met at one of Gregory’s productions in Boston. Isabella kept her friend’s letters tucked inside books related to Irish literature in the Macknight Room. In this particular letter, Lady Gregory shared the sad news that her son Robert Gregory died in combat in World War I and included a clipping of the obituary. Isabella, who also lost her only son, surely sympathized with her. The two women were close enough to confide in each other even through tragedies.