The real stories behind The Gilded Age

Julian Fellowes’ HBO series “The Gilded Age” is a lush, dramatic portrayal of 1880s New York, but how much of it is rooted in historical truth? From the rise of Black high society to the influence of American wealth on British aristocracy, the show draws on real themes and figures from the era — though not always with strict fidelity. With the extensive archives of ProQuest Digital Collections at hand — including the U.S. History Collection, ProQuest History Vault and historical magazine archives — we explored how the show’s major storylines compare to the historical record.

Social Climbing: The Battle Of Old vs. New Money

At the heart of the series is the tension between “old money” families like the van Rhijns and “new money” upstarts like the Russells. While these families are fictional, their dynamics reflect real social battles of the time. Caroline Astor, the real-life queen of New York society, famously resisted the inclusion of nouveau riche families — until Alva Vanderbilt forced her hand with a lavish ball that redefined the social order. This moment is well-documented in The New York Times society pages from 1883.

House Beautiful, a popular shelter magazine of the era, showcased the aspirations of America’s rising middle and upper classes through elegant interior design and domestic aesthetics. Articles like “The Country Home of John D. Rockefeller, Esq.” (1909) provide detailed looks inside the residences of America’s richest, showcasing their taste, wealth and lifestyle. This reflects how material culture and lifestyle were used by the affluent to assert social status and cultivate ideals of refinement (Hello, Bertha) amid rapid social change.

In contrast, a foundational primary source found in the U.S. History Collection, How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York by Jacob A. Riis (1902), offers a powerful exposé of urban poverty and immigrant living conditions. This work vividly illustrates the stark contrast between wealth and poverty central to the series’ themes, providing essential context for the social reform movements portrayed.

Black High Society: More Than a Footnote

One of the show’s most compelling threads is the story of Peggy Scott, a Black journalist working for T. Thomas Fortune — a real historical figure. Fortune was a prominent Black newspaperman and civil rights advocate. His inclusion in the show highlights the often-overlooked presence of Black professionals and intellectuals in post-Reconstruction New York. In Black Studies Center, included in ProQuest One Black Studies, we found Willard B. Gatewood’s “Aristocrats of Color: The Black Elite, 1880–1920,” and were intrigued by the detailed look at this community. Gatewood describes a group that is recognized as elite by both Black and white communities. Members of the broader Black population frequently expressed criticism toward these "upper tens" as aloof and snobbish – as reflected in the Season 3 character of Elizabeth Kirkland.

Temperance: A Moral Crusade

In Season 3, Ada’s embrace of the temperance movement reflects a real and powerful campaign to reduce and eventually prohibit alcohol consumption in late 19th- and early 20th-century America. Closely linked to issues of gender, class, religion and politics, temperance shaped public discourse and legislation.

We dug into the Temperance and Prohibition Movement module (1830–1933) of ProQuest History Vault and read through the real records from organizations like the Anti-Saloon League of America (love the name) and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Correspondence from leader Frances E. Willard and periodicals like The American Issue (chief publication of the Anti-Saloon League of America) made us feel like we were sitting in on one of Ada’s temperance gatherings.

Funding British Aristocracy: Dollars For Titles

The trope of American heiresses marrying into British nobility is no fiction. During the Gilded Age, dozens of wealthy American women married titled but cash-strapped British aristocrats. This transatlantic exchange of money for status was a real phenomenon, and “The Gilded Age” captures it with characters like Bertha Russell, who mirrors figures like Alva Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt married off her daughter Conseulo to the Duke of Marlborough. Take a dive into Women’s Magazine Archive and British Periodicals collections, which document these alliances in detail, to get a sense of what’s ahead for Gladys Russell.

Innovation and Industry: Thomas Edison and The Modern Age

Technological transformation was a hallmark of the Gilded Age, and the series highlights the electrification of homes and public spaces as a symbol of progress. ProQuest’s Thomas Edison Papers, housed in ProQuest History Vault, provide detailed records of Edison’s innovations and the elite networks that fueled them.

Business ledgers and installation records from 1882 reveal how Edison’s electric lighting systems were embraced by prominent figures like J.P. Morgan and W.H. Vanderbilt. These documents uncover the close ties between innovation, infrastructure and influence, echoing the show’s portrayal of electricity as both marvel and marker of modernity. Just as Bertha Russell’s mansion represents new money’s arrival, Edison’s lights signaled the future’s arrival, one connection at a time.

Beyond lighting, Edison’s archival records include business documents such as an 1880s mining claim signed by Edison, Vanderbilt, Morgan affiliates and financier Anthony J. Drexel. This reveals Edison’s engagement in industrial ventures shaping control over natural resources and infrastructure, highlighting how invention and capital have always been deeply intertwined.

Get Gilded

Intrigued? Explore the rise of America’s industrial empire, the social dynamics of wealth and race and the cultural institutions that shaped public life with ProQuest Digital Collections. Dig into Gilded Age fashion and opera by reading historical issues of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, look at Thomas Edison’s notebooks or get a survey course in a curated primary source collection devoted entirely to the Gilded Age.

Step beyond the parlor scenes and explore real history. Check with your library about primary sources from ProQuest that explore the Gilded Age.