Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Portrait |
Title |
Sallie Aley Hert |
Catalog Number |
2007.29.1 |
Creator |
Williams, Charles Sneed |
Date |
ca. 1919 |
Material(s) |
Paint/Wood/Canvas |
Dimensions |
H-60.25 W-40.25 inches |
Description |
This is a portrait of Sallie Aley Hert by Charles Sneed Williams. It shows a woman in a dark dress sitting facing forward. She has brown hair, blue/gray eyes, pink rouged cheeks and pink lips. The dress has a square-cut front and is dark-colored. It has a silk draping. The woman is holding a closed fan in her left hand. |
Notes |
Sallie Aley Hert was born on January 10, 1863 in Bedford, Indiana to Calvin Reuter and Susan Louisa Aley. In 1893, she married Alvin Tobias Hert, also of Indiana. Mr. Hert, a Republican, was superintendent of the Indiana reformatory at Jeffersonville from 1895 to 1902. He later founded the American Creosoting Company in Louisville, Kentucky, specializing in the treatment of railroad ties. This position expanded the couple's fortunes. In 1915, the Herts purchased a Gothic Revival house (Lyndon Hall) with approximately 1300 surrounding acres outside Louisville. The property became known as "Hurstbourne Farm," on which they developed a successful poultry and cattle operation. The couple also kept a summer home on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Alvin T. Hert became active in Republican Party politics and in 1916 served as manager for the Western Republican National campaign of Charles Evans Hughes. In 1920 he actively campaigned for Warren G. Harding. During that same year, the Hert's company was embroiled in an Interstate Commerce Commission dispute with the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. Early rulings favored the American Creosoting Company, but that ruling would later be appealed and overturned by the Supreme Court. During the time of this dispute (7June 1921), Alvin T. Hert died of apoplexy. Sallie Aley Hert stepped into her husband's business and political roles after his death. She became chairman of the board of the American Creosoting Company and participated in Republican Party politics. This later avocation catapulted her to national party recognition. In 1923, Mrs. Hert served as the women's chairman for the Kentucky's Republican State campaign to elect Charles I. Dawson, candidate for governor. In 1924, she became vice chairman of the National Republican Party Committee, a position she held for twelve more years. She campaigned for Calvin Coolidge in 1924. In1928, she headed the women's division of the National Republican Party and strongly supported Hoover. For her efforts to elect Herbert Hoover, Mrs. Hert would be considered for the post of Secretary of Interior though the position was never offered. During the 1932 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Mrs. Hert was one of a handful of speakers to second the nomination of Herbert Hoover. In 1935, she retired as vice-chairman of the Republican Party. (5) Mrs. Hert moved to Palm Beach, Florida in 1937, but traveled to her homes in Michigan and Kentucky frequently. She later deeded the Michigan home to the National Episcopal Cathedral in Washington. During her life, Mrs. Hert belonged in many national and local social organizations, including: Capt. Wendell Wolfe Chapter, D.A.R; charter member of the Old Kentucky Home Association; Business and Professional Women's Club and Pen Women's League; Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky; and the Everglades Club of Palm Beach. (6) Mrs. Hert died at Hurstbourne in Kentucky on June 8, 1948. She is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky, next to her husband. (1) Kleber, John E. (editor) The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Lexington, KY: The University of Kentucky Press, 2001. 383. (2) Rollins, Bob. The History of Hurstbourne Country Club. [Louisville] [n.d.]; "Mrs. Alvin T. Hert Dies in Louisville" New York Times June 9, 1948.; Pennington, Estill Curtis, "Portrait of Sallie Aley Hert" Unpublished report to the Kentucky Historical Society, October 9, 2007. (3) Kleber; Pennington. (4) "Alvin T. Hert Dies Suddenly of Apoplexy" New York Times, June 8, 1921. (5) "Death Takes Mrs. A. T. Hert, Former Republican Leader" Louisville Times, June 8, 1948.; "Woman Secretary?" Time Magazine January 14 1929 [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,737195,00.html accessed October 2, 2007].; "Mrs. Alvin T. Hert Dies: Was Leader In Business and Political Affairs" Louisville Courier Journal, June 9, 1848. (6) Louisville Courier Journal, June 9, 1948. |
Collection |
Sarah McNeal Few Collection |
People |
Williams, Charles Sneed Hert, Sallie Aley |
Subjects |
Business & finance Political participation Politics & government Political parties Women |
Search Terms |
Republican party Republican Republicans Women in politics |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |