Top 10 Historical Figures That Should Be In The Gilded Age

As we see in “The Gilded Age,” tastes are changing. And New York is flooded with New Money and their palatial new mansions. Sounds like a good interior designer is desperately needed. Alas, Elsie de Wolfe, the woman that the New Yorker credited as the inventor of that profession, hadn’t gotten to work yet. In the 1880s, she was making inroads as an actress. However, her impeccable taste, society connections, and friendship with architect Stanford White would eventually lead to a career transition, and widespread renown. White has already appeared on the show. It would be easy for him to introduce Elsie to Larry Russell, who is at the start of his own architecture career, laying the groundwork for a fruitful future collaboration.

When it comes to her writing career, Peggy Scott doesn’t hide her lofty ambitions. While women had begun to carve out space for themselves in the field, there weren’t many. In the mid-1800s 21-year-old Pittsburgh journalist named Nellie Bly was investigating a story on factory conditions when she was reassigned to cover society. The frustrated Bly struck out on her own, first going to Mexico as a foreign correspondent, and then to New York where she accepted an undercover assignment to investigate conditions in a mental asylum. The resulting book, “Ten Days in a Mad-House,” was published in 1887, rocketing Bly to fame. Though it’ll take a couple seasons, we would love to see Nellie and Peggy cross paths when the time comes.

“The Gilded Age” has already included seminal members of the civil rights movement, with T. Thomas Fortune featuring from the first season. Season 2 took us to Tuskegee, Alabama to meet Booker T. Washington. But we hope future episodes might give us the preeminent figure of 19th century Civil Rights, Frederick Douglass. As a young man Douglass escaped slavery, and would go on to become a national leader in the abolitionist movement. A gifted writer and statesman, his influence was unmatched during his lifetime. Douglass had published an autobiography in 1881 and was active as a speaker throughout the decade. There would be plenty of opportunities for Fortune and Peggy to seek him out, and for Douglass to steer the course of their own activism.

One of America’s greatest poets, the transcendentalist New Yorker Walt Whitman reached the height of his fame several decades before the events of “The Gilded Age.” Though he was living in New Jersey by the 1880s, he was still sought out by admirers, like Oscar Wilde, who claimed that Whitman kissed him during an 1882 meeting. It is impossible to know Whitman’s preferences for certain, but he had several passionate friendships with other men throughout his life. Which could allow Whitman to occupy narrative space with Oscar van Rijn, who himself prefers the company of gentlemen to ladies. Oscar is willing to cultivate friendships outside of society, and it would be nice to see him perhaps find some sympathetic wisdom from one of the era's great minds.

Bertha Russell notwithstanding, many couldn’t get enough of the heroes and outlaws of the Wild West. The 19th century saw US expansion across North America, and larger than life figures Billy the Kid, and Wyatt Earp, amongst others, captured popular imagination, and became celebrities in their own right. Thousands turned out to events like Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West shows, which toured the world featuring mega stars of the day like sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Could they show up as the entertainment for a party? Mamie Fish was known to hire elephants and acrobats for her dinners, so a Wild West Show doesn’t seem too far fetched. It would be a fun alternative to all the figurative ammo flying in the Opera Wars.

It was 1920 before the right of women to vote was enshrined in US law, following a long fight for suffrage that gained steam in the mid-19th century. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were two of the most important leaders of the movement for much of this time. The pair wrote and spoke tirelessly on the cause while organizing other women across all walks of life. Alva Vanderbilt, who serves as the inspiration for Bertha Russell, would become one of the most active suffragists of the society set. In season 1 Bertha gave her support to Clara Barton in order to build her social capital. But a future meeting with Anthony and Stanton could show us what Bertha can do when her personal passion is really ignited.

There are surprisingly few depictions of this American hero on film, but The Gilded Age could help address that oversight. Best known for her courageous expeditions to lead enslaved people to freedom, Harriet Tubman also served as a Civil War scout and spy before settling in rural New York. No one had earned their rest more than this woman, but throughout the later years of her life she took up an activist role in the cause of women’s suffrage. Peggy hasn’t really begun to explore this movement so far, but it is the sort of thing we could see her becoming passionate about. Perhaps she’ll have an opportunity to meet Tubman while covering a story, and become inspired. But then, who wouldn’t be inspired by Harriet Tubman?

Long before he was President, Theodore Roosevelt was making his name in New York Politics. In 1882 at the tender age of 24, he won a seat in the state assembly, where he immediately started making noise with an anti-corporate corruption campaign. One of his biggest targets? Notorious industrialist Jay Gould, who served as the inspiration for George Russell. George’s willingness to engage in shady business practices and union busting measures would be in direct opposition to Theodore Roosevelt’s positions. Having once stated, “I always believe in going hard at everything,” we can only imagine how Roosevelt would come at George. Meanwhile, George has proven to be clever and ruthless at getting his own way. Sounds like a face off we’d be dying to see.

In season one we saw Thomas Edison’s awe-inspiring 1882 illumination of New York City recreated. Less than two years later, his eventual rival Nikola Tesla arrived in New York. Tesla briefly worked for Edison before abruptly quitting to pursue his own inventing, and as of Spring 1885, he was applying for patents. Bet he could use an assistant. Season 2 of “The Gilded Age” has shown the footman Jack to have a curiosity about inventing, and some degree of innate talent. It seems like a natural fit to put these two smart, ambitious young men together on screen. With Tesla’s influence, Jack’s skills could really have a chance to develop, taking the character in an exciting new direction.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Photojournalist Began Documenting New York Slum Conditions in the 1880s, Leading To Much Needed Reforms

This Activist and Reformer Could Give Marian the Meaningful Work She’s Been Looking For

In the Event of Criminal Activity, the Formidable Head of the NYPD Would Be an Intimidating Presence on the Show

Seriously, how could you not? With “The Age of Innocence,” Edith Wharton would write the definitive narrative spotlighting Gilded Age society. And she was able to capture it so perfectly, because she lived it. Born Edith Newbold Jones in 1862, her family is allegedly the source of the phrase, “Keeping up with the Joneses.” In the world of the show, Edith would be of an age to be friends with Carrie Astor, and, by extension, Gladys Russell. Already known for her keen observation and willful individualism, Edith would likely encourage Gladys’ desire for more independence. Of course this would probably lead to clashes with Bertha. We’re not sure how it would ultimately play out, but a showdown between Bertha and Edith would definitely be one for the books.