1903 & 1937 - Beatrice Celia Borg & Cecelia Borg Stein

Borg/Stein wedding, 1903

Stein/Cullman wedding, 1937

…an elaborate dress of satin, lace and chiffon having a large lace bertha collar over short puff chiffon sleeves and a satin bodice and cummerbund with floral embroidery. The mostly satin skirt has a front panel of two layers of chiffon ending in a deep ruffle with horizontal tucks and pleated chiffon bands that extends around the skirt hem into the train. Two lace side panels, which match the collar, top the skirt. 1903/1937

 Beatrice Celia Borg wore this dress when she married Frederick Michael Stein in New York, New York on November 26, 1903. Her daughter, Cecelia Borg Stein, would alter it for her marriage to William Arthur Cullman on July 1, 1937.

Beatrice Celia Borg was born in 1881, one of three children of Cecilia Lichtenstadter and Simon Borg, who was born in Germany and migrated to Memphis, TN to work as a cotton broker. He founded the bank that would later become the Manhattan Bank & Trust, and moved to Manhattan by 1869. Beatrice’s mother, Cecilia, was a prominent philanthropist and one of the founders of Barnard College. Simon and Cecilia had seven children, Beatrice being the eldest daughter. Unfortunately, both of Beatrice’s parents died shortly following her marriage.

Frederick Stein was the son of Pauline Bernard and Solomon Stein. He was the only son of four children born to the couple. Solomon immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1841. His father co-owned a clothing manufacturer, Stein & Brother, which funded the family fortune. Eventually these Steins moved to New York City sometime after 1872. Frederick attended Harvard University from 1891-1893 before leaving to join his father’s business. Prior to his marriage, Fred travelled extensively with his cousin, Leo Stein, older brother of Gertrude Stein, a pioneer in modernist writing and well-known collector of modern art.

Beatrice and Fred’s wedding was a lavish affair that was documented in the local newspapers. The ceremony was held at Beatrice’s parent’s home on Fifth Avenue in New York.  The bride had 10 attendants and 250 guests at the reception. The home was transformed with palm trees, ferns, lilies and roses to create a conservatory effect.

Fred and Beatrice had three children, two sons and one daughter, Celia, the youngest.

Cecelia Borg Stein was born April 17, 1914 and married William Arthur Cullman on July 1, 1937. W. Arthur Cullman was born December 27, 1914 to Francis Wolf and Joseph Frederick Cullman Jr., one of five children. The family resided in New York City.

This wedding also took place in Manhattan, and Cecelia did her best to duplicate her mother’s elaborate wedding even in the midst of the Great Depression. She had the same number of attendants and a bridal party photo with a backdrop of palm trees.

Arthur received his Bachelor’s degree from Yale in 1927, his MBA from Harvard in 1939, and his PhD from Ohio State University. He worked four years in sales at the Philip Morris Companies and four years at Benson & Hedges, where he became executive vice president. Arthur’s father and his grandfather had both worked as tobacco merchants. Arthur later taught at OSU for 35 years and headed the graduate business programs and marketing faculty. He also served as the President of the American Marketing Association from 1977-1978. The couple had four children and was married 55 years before Arthur passed away in 1992.

Donated by brides’ son and grandson, W. Arthur Cullman Jr.

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