After the Titanic had struck the iceberg, Helen Churchill Candee was rescued in lifeboat 6. She had given an antique cameo of her mother to Edward Austin Kent for safekeeping as she thought he would have a better chance of surviving the sinking than she did. Although Mr Kent died, his body was recovered, and the cameo was found in his clothing and returned to Mrs Candee. [1]
Helen Churchill Candee was an American journalist, interior decorator, travel writer, and explorer, who left a legacy in both literary and historical circles. She died on 23 August 1949, aged 90.
Candee was a feminist, as evidenced by her best-selling first book, How Women May Earn a Living (1900). In her early years as a journalist, she wrote fiction for women’s magazines such as Good Housekeeping and Harper’s Bazaar. Her later articles, focused on art, culture, and design and she contributed to many of the leading literary and political journals of the day including Atlantic Monthly, The Century and Forum.
Candee is best known, however, as being a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was researching a book on tapestry in Europe when she was called back to the U.S. on emergency because her son had been injured in a car accident.
When the ship sank, Candee managed to escape in a lifeboat and later recounted her experience in a short story, A Lost Short Story of the Titanic by a Survivor. Her personal account not only detailed the events of that fateful night but also revealed her resilience and determination to survive in the face of unimaginable odds. In the wake of the Titanic tragedy, Candee’s literary career continued to thrive, though her works focused more on historical reflection and her experiences as a survivor.
She wrote eight books—four on the decorative arts, two travelogues, one instructional, and one novel. Candee’s biggest seller was The Tapestry Book (1912), which went into many editions.
Helen Candee died in York, York County, Maine, on 23 August 1949, and was buried at the First Parish Cemetery in York.
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How Women May Earn a Living by Helen Churchill Candee
How Women May Earn a Living by Helen Churchill Candee
Sealed Orders: A Lost Short Story of the Titanic by a Survivor by Helen Churchill Candee
The Tapestry Book by Helen Churchill Candee
The Tapestry Book by Helen Churchill Candee
Titanic Wiki: Helen Churchill Candee