The Gilded Age and Shifting Perspectives
- Pam Skis
- Aug 16
- 1 min read
A Different African American story unfolds …
Watching three seasons of HBO Max’s “The Gilded Age” has offered me fresh insight into the Sisters Godfrey Collection story.
Set in 1883, “The Gilded Age” highlights the lives of a segment of the Black population during the late 19th century—individuals who had achieved success, education, and influence in society. Just 17 years later, my great-grandparents, Henry & Louise Godfrey, left Virginia for New York City, where they owned in a brownstone home on East 75th Street, and where Henry established a business maintaining brownstone buildings.
After Henry’s tragic passing due to an accidental fall, Louise began anew in Corona—an established African American community in Queens, where I lived for the first two years of my life.
This series has inspired me to expand the focus of the Sisters Godfrey Collection. While the artwork and influences of the Virginia farm remain central, I’m now incorporating more New York stories—a place where resilience and creativity shaped our family’s legacy.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore the rich tapestry of African American history through art and storytelling.
Photos:
1) The Godfrey-Reid Family, circa 1910
2) Peggy Scott - HBO Max The Gilded Age
3) Arthur & Dorothy Scott, and Peggy Scott - HBO Max The Gilded Age
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