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Edith Cummings
Edith Cummings
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Edith Cummings Munson (March 26, 1899 – November 20, 1984), popularly known as The Fairway Flapper, was an American socialite and one of the premier amateur golfers during the Jazz Age.[1] She was one of the Big Four debutantes in Chicago during World War I.[2][3] She attained fame in the United States following her 1923 victory in the U.S. Women's Amateur.[4] On August 25, 1924, she became the first golfer and first female athlete to appear on the cover of Time magazine.[1][5][6] She also was the literary model for the character of Jordan Baker in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby.[7]

Key Information

Early life and school

[edit]
Cummings circa 1920

Cummings was born on March 26, 1899, to David Mark Cummings and his wife Ruth Dexter.[8][9] She had a younger brother, Dexter,[8][9] and a younger sister Dorothy who died in infancy in December 1902.[9]

Cummings had a privileged upbringing and was regarded by the Chicago press as a member of the city's elite "Big Four" debutantes circa World War I.[2][3] This exclusive quartet consisted of Cummings, Ginevra King, Courtney Letts, and Margaret Carry. The four debutantes often "went to dances and house parties together, and they were seen as a foursome on the golf links and tennis courts at Onwentsia."[2][3]

Edith's father, David Cummings, was a Yale alumnus and Chicago banker.[9] He paid for her to attend the Westover School, a prestigious finishing school in Middlebury, Connecticut.[3] Edith was in the class of 1917. Though the school had been founded only in 1909 by headmistress Mary Robbins Hillard,[10] the institution attracted young women from many prominent families.[10] Cummings' classmates included fellow Chicago socialite Ginevra King, future philanthropist Katharine Ordway, Isabel Rockefeller (of the Rockefeller family, a granddaughter of William Rockefeller), and Prescott Bush's sisters Mary and Margaret (aunts to U.S. President George H. W. Bush and great aunts to George W. Bush).[11]

F. Scott Fitzgerald

[edit]
Cummings in 1923

In 1915, while either at Westover School in Connecticut or at Lake Forest, Illinois,[3] Cummings met a young Princeton University student named F. Scott Fitzgerald.[3] He had fallen in love with her close friend and Westover schoolmate Ginevra King. He would later immortalize both of them in his 1925 novel The Great Gatsby.[7] Fitzgerald based the character of Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby upon Cummings, just as the character Daisy Buchanan was modeled after Cummings' friend King.[7]

Much like King and Cummings, Buchanan and Baker were wealthy socialites and intimate friends. Baker, à la Cummings, "wore all her dresses like sports clothes — there was a jauntiness about her movements as if she had first learned to walk upon golf courses on clean, crisp mornings."[7] In the novel, Baker is the love interest of the novel's narrator Nick Carraway, and she purportedly cheats at golf, but there is no evidence that Fitzgerald drew this particular detail from Cummings.[7] Fitzgerald reportedly created the name of Cummings' character by combining the names of two car manufacturers, the Jordan Motor Car Company and the Baker Motor Vehicle.[12]

Golf victories

[edit]
Cummings on the cover of Time magazine in August 1924.

Following her graduation from Westover School in 1917, Cummings pursued tournament golf where she garnered the sobriquet of "the Fairway Flapper."[1] In 1919, she qualified to compete in the U.S. Women's Amateur for the first time.[13] Cummings and her brother Dexter had learned to play golf from their parents at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Illinois.[9] Both her father and mother had been club champions. Edith had won the club championship in 1918. Her sibling Dexter won the intercollegiate championship in 1923 and in 1924 and the Western Amateur championship in 1925.[14]

In 1921, Cummings competed in the British Ladies Amateur with other famous female golfers such as Alexa Stirling and Marion Hollins. The next year, Cummings entered the U.S. Women's Amateur, where she was in match play against Glenna Collett, then an 18-year-old from Rhode Island, who became known as one of the great female golfers of the 1920s. Cummings lost on the final hole. She won the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1923,[14][4] earning her the cover photo on Time as well as profiles in Vogue, Ladies' Home Journal, and many newspapers.[1] She also won the Women's Western Amateur in 1924.

Marriage

[edit]

Cummings never won another tournament and left tournament golf in 1926,[15] but remained a well-known figure. In 1934, she married wealthy Detroit businessman Curtis B. Munson who had accrued a considerable fortune in coal and lumber interests.[16][17]

During their marriage, Curtis Munson served as a clandestine U.S. intelligence operative engaging in espionage activities against the Japanese Empire under the direction of Assistant Secretary of State Adolph Berle.[17]

In 1940, at the behest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Munson investigated the sympathies of Japanese-Americans living in the United States before the U.S. entered World War II and authored the Munson Report.[18][17] In his report, Munson was highly critical of accusations that Japanese-American citizens would serve as fifth column saboteurs, and he concluded that the average Japanese-American was "an extremely good citizen and it is only because he is a stranger to us that we mistrust him."[17]

Later life and legacy

[edit]
Cummings' former house in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Cummings and Munson largely retreated from the public spotlight later in life except for forays into philanthropy. Cummings remained a committed golfer into her 80s. She was enthusiastic about all outdoor activities, especially big game hunting in the Yukon and fishing.[14] She and her husband traveled extensively throughout their marriage until her husband's death in 1979. In his honor, she made a significant contribution to the Decatur House renovation in Washington, D.C.

Today, the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation funds a number of conservation programs.[19] She has an award named after her, the Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award, given annually to one of the top female collegiate golfers who excels in academics.[20] The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation donates $5,000 to the general scholarship fund of the winner's school.[20]

See also

[edit]
  • Ginevra King, a debutante friend of Cummings and also the inspiration for a F. Scott Fitzgerald character
  • Big Four, a quartet of wealthy Chicago debutantes who were famous circa World War I

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Edith Cummings Munson (March 26, 1899 – November 20, 1984) was an American and amateur golfer who achieved prominence by winning the 1923 Women's Amateur Championship, defeating Alexa Stirling 3 and 2 at in . Born into Chicago's elite banking family, Cummings exemplified the intersection of high society and emerging women's athletics in the , blending competitive with a fashionable, modern image that earned her the nickname "The Fairway " from contemporary reporters. As one of the "Big Four" debutantes of Chicago society, Cummings transitioned from local tournaments to national acclaim, reaching the semifinals of the 1922 U.S. Women's Amateur before her 1923 victory propelled her to celebrity status, including the distinction of being the first female athlete to appear on the cover of Time magazine on August 25, 1924. Her poised athleticism and social prominence inspired the character Jordan Baker in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, reflecting her role as a symbol of liberated, elite womanhood in the 1920s. After marrying engineer Curtis B. Munson in 1934, she shifted focus to philanthropy through the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, while maintaining an active life that included big-game hunting into her later years.

Early Life

Family Background and Upbringing

Edith Cummings was born on March 26, 1899, in , , the daughter of David Mark Cummings, a prominent banker, and Ruth Dexter, members of Chicago's affluent social circles. She was the eldest of three siblings, including a younger brother, Dexter Cummings, with the family maintaining residences on Chicago's Gold Coast and in the elite suburb of Lake Forest, where they spent summers. The Cummings household emphasized sporting pursuits, particularly , which her father introduced to both and Dexter at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, fostering early proficiency in the game amid a privileged environment of society. Raised among Lake Forest's social elite, Cummings experienced an upbringing steeped in wealth, formal social expectations, and access to exclusive recreational facilities that shaped her athletic development and status.

Education and Social Debut

Cummings grew up in the affluent suburb of , where her family's wealth and social standing provided access to elite institutions and clubs. She attended the , an exclusive Episcopal finishing school for girls in , graduating in 1917. This education emphasized refinement, deportment, and preparation for rather than academic or professional pursuits, aligning with the expectations for women of her class during the early . Cummings did not attend college, forgoing higher education in favor of social and recreational activities. In 1916, at age 17, Cummings made her formal social debut as a member of the "Big Four," a prominent group of debutantes that included , Courtney Letts, and Margaret Carry. This presentation into society, centered in Chicago's North Shore elite circles, involved cotillions, balls, and introductions to potential suitors among the city's industrial and financial aristocracy. The Big Four gained notoriety for their beauty, wealth, and influence, embodying the Jazz Age's blend of glamour and privilege, though Cummings distinguished herself by channeling her energies into competitive alongside social obligations. Her debut solidified her position within this insular network, where family connections—such as her father's role as a banker—facilitated entree to events at venues like the Onwentsia Club.

Literary and Social Connections

Relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald

Edith Cummings first encountered in 1915 through her close friend , a fellow Chicago debutante and Fitzgerald's early romantic interest during his time at . , whom Fitzgerald met in St. Paul, Minnesota, while on holiday from Princeton, introduced Cummings into their social circle, where the young writer observed the affluent lifestyles that later influenced his work. This meeting occurred amid the pre-World War I social scene of Midwestern elites, with Cummings, then around 16 years old, already emerging as a promising golfer and alongside King. Their connection remained primarily social and indirect, facilitated by shared acquaintances in the "Big Four" debutantes group, which included Cummings, King, Margaret Carry, and Courtney Letts. Fitzgerald, captivated by King's vivacity and the group's glamour, drew from these interactions for character inspirations in his fiction, though no documented romantic involvement existed between him and Cummings. Instead, Cummings' athletic prowess and poised demeanor left a distinct mark; Fitzgerald immortalized elements of her persona in The Great Gatsby (1925), modeling the character Jordan Baker—a professional golfer and Daisy's cynical friend—after her. Jordan's depiction as a skilled, independent athlete mirrors Cummings' 1923 U.S. Women's Amateur victory and her nickname "Fairway Flapper," reflecting the era's blend of sport and high society that Fitzgerald observed firsthand. This literary parallel underscores Fitzgerald's fascination with the Cummings-King milieu, yet biographers emphasize that Jordan's traits, such as her golfing expertise and detached sophistication, derive specifically from Cummings rather than King's more ethereal allure, which inspired . Fitzgerald's letters and notebooks from the period, including references to Lake Forest gatherings where Cummings socialized, further corroborate this influence without indicating deeper personal ties. The association highlights how Cummings embodied the of the liberated female athlete, a figure Fitzgerald critiqued and romanticized in his portrayal of Baker's moral ambiguity and self-assured poise.

Role in the Big Four Debutantes

Edith Cummings was a founding member of the Big Four, a prominent quartet of Chicago debutantes formed in 1914 comprising Cummings, Ginevra King, Courtney Letts, and Margaret "Peg" Carry. The group, daughters of wealthy Lake Forest and Chicago business elites, attended the Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut, and symbolized the era's affluent social scene through their shared pursuits in sports, parties, and high-society events. Cummings and her peers commissioned identical gold rings inscribed "The Big Four," which they wore as a symbol of their close-knit bond, and frequently gathered at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest for and , activities that foreshadowed Cummings' later athletic prominence. The debutantes' summers involved driving automobiles, dancing, and attending balls, drawing coverage in society pages for their beauty and vivacity during the pre-World War I and periods. Within the group, Cummings distinguished herself through early involvement in equestrian events and operettas, as noted in contemporary press, while the Big Four's collective fame extended to literary influence, with Cummings reportedly inspiring F. Scott Fitzgerald's character Jordan Baker. She remained the last unmarried member until her 1934 wedding, outlasting peers like (married September 4, 1918) and Carry (married December 27, 1919). The Big Four's activities highlighted the intersection of elite social status and emerging women's athleticism in early 20th-century , with Cummings' role bridging debutante glamour and competitive sports.

Golf Career

Entry into Competitive Golf

Edith Cummings, raised in the affluent Lake Forest community near , developed her golf skills at local clubs including Onwentsia and Sunset Ridge Country Club, where family members also competed. Her entry into competitive play occurred around 1916, at age 17, when she secured one of her initial tournament victories at Onwentsia Club. After graduating from in 1917, Cummings intensified her involvement in organized events. She first qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 1919, marking her debut on the national stage. The following year, in 1920, she progressed to the quarterfinals of the same championship before elimination by the eventual winner. These early national appearances established Cummings as an emerging talent in amateur women's , setting the foundation for her later dominance in the . Her background in elite social circles facilitated access to high-quality courses and instruction, contributing to her rapid skill development.

Major Championships and Records


Edith Cummings secured her most prominent achievement by winning the 1923 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, held September 10-15 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. In the 36-hole final, she defeated two-time defending champion Alexa Stirling 3 and 2 to claim the Robert Cox Trophy, marking the first time the event was hosted at that venue. This victory elevated her status in competitive golf, as she advanced through matches including a semifinal win over Florence Vanderbeck in 20 holes.
The following year, Cummings reached the final of the 1924 U.S. Women's Amateur but lost to Dorothy Campbell Hurd on the 37th hole after trailing by one. She also captured the 1924 Women's Western Amateur, defeating opponents in to add to her regional accolades. Earlier, in 1922, she set a course record of 77 at the Belleair Bay Country Club during the Belleair Tournament, which she won.
TournamentYearResult
U.S. Women's Amateur1923Winner (d. A. Stirling 3&2)
U.S. Women's Amateur1924Runner-up (l. to D. C. Hurd, 37th hole)
Women's Western Amateur1924Winner

Public Persona and Media Attention

Edith Cummings emerged as a prominent figure in American sports media during the early , particularly following her victory in the 1923 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, which drew widespread press coverage portraying her as a stylish, athletic embodiment of the . Reporters nicknamed her "The Fairway ," highlighting her blend of competitive golf skill and socialite lifestyle involving parties, dancing, and a modern feminine image. Her media prominence peaked in 1924 after defending her U.S. Amateur title, leading to her appearance on the cover of Time magazine on August 25, 1924—the first such honor for a golfer and the first female athlete. The cover symbolized her status as a celebrity athlete, emblematic of women's growing participation in sports amid cultural shifts toward leisure and glamour. Earlier that year, a photograph of Cummings appeared in Vogue magazine's December 1923 issue, captioned to celebrate her Chicago origins and championship defeat of opponent Ellen Stenson, further cementing her image as an elite, fashionable competitor. Cummings' public persona contrasted with the era's typical male-dominated narratives, as outlets emphasized her , , and upper-class background alongside her low-handicap play, which reached scratch level by 1923. This coverage helped elevate women's golf's visibility, though some accounts noted her eliteness underscored the sport's exclusivity among affluent circles.

Personal Life and Marriage

Courtship and Wedding to Curtis Munson

Edith Cummings first met Curtis Burton Munson in 1931 at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend in . At the time, Cummings was 32 years old and had largely retired from competitive , while Munson, aged 39, was a divorced businessman who had built a fortune in and interests. Their , spanning several years within Chicago's social circles, culminated in an announcement made by Cummings' mother on January 15, 1934, with the wedding planned for the spring. The couple married on April 7, 1934—the first Saturday following —at 4:00 p.m. in the of Cummings' mother's residence in . The ceremony was intimate, attended by family and close figures, followed by a reception for Chicago's social elite. Munson, described in contemporary reports as a prominent New York-based figure despite his primary business ties to , brought financial independence to the union, aligning with Cummings' own affluent background. The marriage marked Cummings' transition from public athletic prominence to a more private life of and engagements.

Post-Marriage Lifestyle and Family

Following her marriage to Curtis B. Munson on April 7, 1934, Edith Cummings largely withdrew from public view and competitive , embracing a quieter, affluent centered on , outdoor pursuits, and . The couple, who remained childless, resided primarily in , after Munson's business interests in coal, lumber, and engineering—initially tied to properties in —shifted focus southward; Munson, a veteran of and II, brought three daughters from his prior marriage into the dynamic, with Cummings serving as . They traveled extensively during their 46-year marriage, pursuing activities such as hunting and fishing, while Cummings maintained an avid interest in recreational without seeking tournaments. The Munsons avoided media attention, prioritizing over social prominence; in the 1970s and 1980s, they supported conservation efforts and golf-related causes through the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, which continues to fund annual $5,000 scholarships for academically outstanding female collegiate golfers. In 1982, at age 83, Cummings personally donated $500,000 to the to endow the Women's Amateur trophy, reflecting her enduring commitment to the sport that defined her youth. Curtis Munson died on October 13, 1980, in , at age 88, survived by his wife and three daughters from his first marriage. Cummings outlived him by four years, passing away on November 20, 1984, at age 85 in , with no immediate family beyond step-relations noted in records. Their union exemplified a shift from Cummings' flapper-era fame to subdued domesticity and legacy-building through quiet generosity.

Wartime and Later Activities

World War II Contributions

During , Edith Cummings Munson accompanied her husband, Lieutenant Commander Curtis B. Munson of the U.S. Navy, to , where she served as director of staff welfare for the . In this capacity, she oversaw the well-being and support services for Red Cross personnel operating in the European theater amid active military operations. Her husband's naval intelligence role involved participation in key Allied landings, including those in , , and , placing the couple in proximity to frontline activities. Cummings Munson's wartime service extended her pre-war pattern of volunteerism, though specific operational details of her Red Cross directorship, such as personnel numbers managed or precise locations, remain sparsely documented in available accounts.

Retirement and Final Years

Following her contributions during , Edith Cummings Munson led a private life in , alongside her husband Munson, eschewing the public spotlight that had defined her earlier years in and society. The couple, married since , had no children and focused on personal pursuits, with Munson occasionally engaging in recreational well into her later decades. Curtis Munson died in 1979 after 46 years of marriage, leaving Cummings Munson to continue residing in the capital. In October 1982, at age 83, she was profiled for retaining a proficient , demonstrating drives and approaches during a session at a local course, though she no longer competed. Edith Cummings Munson died on November 20, 1984, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 85.

Legacy

Impact on Women's Golf

Edith Cummings' 1923 victory in the United States Women's Amateur Championship marked a pivotal moment for the sport, as she defeated pre-tournament favorites Glenna Collett and Alexa Stirling in the final match at the Flossmoor Country Club, securing a 3-and-2 win on September 22. This triumph, achieved as a 23-year-old socialite from Chicago's elite circles, highlighted the potential for amateur women to compete at the highest levels and contributed to the era's growing media interest in female athletes. Her celebrity status amplified women's golf visibility; on August 25, 1924, Cummings became the first golfer and first female athlete to grace the cover of Time magazine, depicted in a stylish pose that blended athleticism with glamour. Dubbed the "Fairway Flapper" for her party-going lifestyle alongside her competitive edge, she exemplified a modern archetype of the female golfer, helping to shift perceptions from exclusivity to broader cultural appeal during the amateur boom. Alongside contemporaries like Collett, , and Marion Hollins—collectively praised by sportswriter for transforming women's participation—Cummings' success underscored the sport's evolution toward greater competitiveness and public engagement. Post-retirement following her 1926 marriage, Cummings' legacy endured through the Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award, established by the Women's Golf Coaches Association to honor top female golfers excelling in academics and play, reflecting her own balanced profile as a and champion. While her competitive career spanned only a few peak years, her role in elevating the amateur ideal and attracting elite female participation laid groundwork for the sport's expansion, though sustained professionalization awaited later figures.

Cultural Representations and Enduring Influence

Edith Cummings served as an inspiration for Jordan Baker, the professional golfer and socialite character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel . Jordan embodies the era's archetype—athletic, independent, and ensconced in elite social circles—reflecting Cummings' own reputation as a stylish, competitive golfer amid Chicago's . Cummings' prominence extended to visual media, where she appeared on the cover of Time magazine on August 25, 1924, becoming the first golfer and first female athlete to do so, which amplified her image as a symbol of Jazz Age modernity. Her Vogue photograph from December 1923 further portrayed her as a fashionable athletic figure, blending sport with 1920s glamour. In enduring influence, Cummings exemplified the elite, exuberant spirit of women's athletics, influencing cultural depictions of female golfers as socially prominent and stylistically innovative, though confined largely to upper-class contexts. Her legacy persists in historical analyses of the period's , where she contributed to popular images of athletic women transcending traditional gender roles within privileged spheres.

References

  1. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edith_Cummings_Vogue_Photograph_December_1923.jpg
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