Shelby Park in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
William Shakespeare Caldwell
(1821-1874)
⎯⎯⎯
The Caldwell Sisters
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024
1. William Shakespeare Caldwell side of marker
The Caldwell Sisters Mary Guendaline and Mary Elizabeth Caldwell, daughters of William and Mary Eliza Breckinridge Caldwell, inherited their family's wealth and continued to donate to Catholic institutions, including the founding of the Catholic University in Washington D.C. Both were married to European royalty & are buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Erected 2020 by Kentucky Historical Society Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2628.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Women. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society
this page online
Location. 38° 13.968′ N, 85° 44.616′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Shelby Park. It is at the intersection of South Clay Street and Gwendolyn Street, on the left when traveling south on South Clay Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1231 S Clay St, Louisville KY 40203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Ohio River Valley. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Vincent de Paul Parish / D.X. Murphy (1853-1933) (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shelby Park Neighborhood / Shelby Park Branch Library (about 600 feet away); St. Matthew Church / Act of Compassion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Off Shelby / Shelby St. Streetcar Barn
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024
2. The Caldwell Sisters side of marker
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024
3. William Shakespeare Caldwell / The Caldwell Sisters Marker
Unknown; from The Catholic World (January, 1893) via Internet Archive (Public Domain)
4. William Shakespeare Caldwell and Mary Eliza Breckinridge Caldwell
Born into a wealthy Virginia family, William increased his fortune by installing gas works. Mary was from a prominent Louisville family. They married in 1853; she died at the age of 36 in 1867.
from Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints & Photographs, New York Public Library (Public Domain), circa 1887
5. Mary Guendaline Byrd Mamie Caldwell (1863-1909)
She also was known as the Marquise des Monstiers-Mιrinville (she married a French aristocrat). A philanthropist, she funded the establishment of the Catholic University of America and donated the land for its Washington, D.C. campus. She later renounced her faith.
from The Literary Digest via Internet Archive (Public Domain), circa April 21, 1906
6. Mary Elizabeth Breckinridge Lina Caldwell (1865-1910)
She was married to German diplomat Baron Kurt von Zedtwitz, giving her the title of baroness. She also renounced her Catholic faith late in life, criticizing the Church's practices in her 1906 book, Unveiling Hidden Truths: The Double Doctrine of the Church of Rome.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 546 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 11, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
