Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1908, Betsey Cushing was known from her earliest days as one of the famous Cushing sisters. Beginning with their debutante days, Betsey and her sisters Minnie and Babe, were celebrated by society and renowned for their beauty and charm. Raised in a strict household, Betsey once remarked that “perfectionism was drummed into us.” In addition to receiving the finest education available to young women of the upper class, their mother, Mrs. Katherine Cushing, instilled in her daughters the arts of homemaking and hostessing.

Betsey’s first marriage was to James Roosevelt II, son of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. During President Roosevelt’s time in office, his daughter-in-law often served as President Roosevelt’s companion when entertaining at the White House, earning her a globally renowned reputation as hostess extraordinaire. Among her notable achievements, Betsey accompanied President Roosevelt when he welcomed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Hyde Park. The young Roosevelts’ time in Washington D.C. cemented Betsey’s reputation as an ultimate hostess and society doyenne. Betsey and James had two children before divorcing in 1940.

In 1942, Betsey married John Hay ‘Jock’ Whitney. Together, they moved to London when President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Mr. Whitney Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s. While in London, Betsey fostered her friendship with the now-Queen Mother, whom she had met during her visit to Hyde Park years prior. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney also developed a relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. Mrs. Whitney undoubtedly drew on her time in the White House while representing her home country abroad.

Upon returning to the United States, Mrs. Whitney took up the task of maintaining their many homes in Fishers Island, Georgia, Long Island, Manhattan, and Saratoga Springs. When Mr. Whitney passed away, his widow inherited one of the most significant fortunes in America.

An avid philanthropist, Mrs. Whitney supported local community groups through her charity, the Greentree Foundation. Mrs. Whitney was also a patron of medicine, likely influenced from her time as a nurse’s aide during World War II, and the arts. She was involved with New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and gave $8 million to the Yale Medical School, the largest gift at the time in the school's history. She supported the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

In addition to her philanthropic giving, Mrs. Whitney was revered for her style, charm, and grace. Often described as confident and self-assured, and with a keen eye for color, Lots 69 - 72 display the taste of a woman with an unwavering sense of self – not swayed by trends of the time. The following lots formerly in the collection of Mrs. Whitney provide a glimpse into a thoughtful jewelry collection from one of the most prestigious figures of New York society.