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Biography and life of Harriet Hubbard Ayer
Harriet Hubbard Ayer was born in Chicago on June 27, 1849. She was married at the age of 16 to Herbert Ayer, the son of an iron dealer.
In 1833 her husband failed in business, and Harriet was forced to fend for herself and her two daughters. This was accomplished with great vigor. After working as both a decorator and a salesperson, she was able to secure business backing for the manufacture of a facial crème that she claimed to have discovered in Paris. She marketed this crème using the name Madame Recamier, a famous beauty from the days of Napoleon, and using extensive advertising in newspapers and magazines, her company, Recamier Preparations, Inc. became very successful.
Severe problems arose shortly after with one of the stockholders of the company. Claims and counter claims were filed between Mrs. Ayer and James Seymour, the father in law of her daughter Harriet. These actions culminated in 1893, when her daughter Harriet and her ex-husband had her committed to a mental asylum. A year later, through the help of her lawyers and friends, she was able to procure her release.
In 1896, Mrs. Ayer began to write a column on beauty advice for the New York World. These columns received a huge following. In 1899 she published her book, Harriet Hubbard Ayer's Book: A Complete and Authentic Treatise on the Laws of Health and Beauty.
Harriet Hubbard Ayer was later reconciled with her daughters and was recognized for her work. At her death in 1903 at the age of 54, she was still working at the World. Her daughter Margaret took over her column.
She was no suffragist and no feminist, and in fact facilitated certain myths about beauty, which could be construed today as doing women a disservice. Yet she still sparked the interests and confidence of an emerging class of independent women, encouraging these women to escape from an old pattern of restriction, and hence become more independent.