Parents: Frederick Newbold Lawrence (1834–1916) and Elizabeth Miller Boyce (1835–1894). Spouse: (1) Frank Worth White (1856–1887); (2) Foxhall Parker Keene (1867–1941). Children: Loomis Lawrence White (1879–1948). Kinship: Great-grandaunt of the post–World War II Smith generation.

Early Life and Marriage to Frank Worth White Mary Lawrence was raised in the prominent Lawrence family of Bayside and Flushing, New York. On October 3, 1878, she married Frank Worth White at St. George’s Church, Flushing. Their son, Loomis Lawrence White, was born November 2, 1879. Frank, a graduate of Trinity College, was admitted to the New York Stock Exchange in 1881 and entered his father’s brokerage firm, Loomis, White & Co.

The couple participated actively in New York and Lenox society. In 1883 they leased Tucker Cottage in Lenox for the season. Frank died of pneumonia on January 18, 1887, at the age of thirty, leaving Mary a widow at twenty-seven.

Society Life and Tableaux Vivants Following her widowhood, Mary remained active in society. In February 1884 she appeared in a large charity tableaux event at Madison Square Garden before an audience of three thousand, portraying Helen of Troy. One critic praised her as “in every way worthy to represent the lovely Helen,” while another, more sardonic, wrote that although her beauty was undeniable, she was “thin, hollow-chested and bow-backed,” yet possessed “glorious” eyes and a remarkably clear complexion.

In March 1886 she took part in a Lenten charity entertainment at which she sang “My Marguerite.” Newspapers nationwide reported her appearance, noting her gray spring suit embroidered with tiny black and white flowers—a level of detail that reveals the intense public interest in the minutiae of New York society fashion.

That same year she again participated in tableaux vivants at the Metropolitan Opera House to benefit St. George’s Seaside House. She appeared as “The Sibyl” after the painting by F. S. Church, one critic remarking that she was “a beautiful picture of a pretty woman,” though more suited, the writer thought, to a muse of love than a prophetess

Marriage to Foxhall Parker Keene Mary became engaged to Foxhall Parker Keene in August 1891 and married him on December 10, 1892, at her home at 19 East 22nd Street in New York. Foxhall “Foxie” Keene was one of the most celebrated American sportsmen of his era, noted for polo, racing, yachting, and international society. Mary accompanied him to sporting and social events, as well as to the opera and major charitable entertainments.

Fashion and Public Attention Mary’s clothing attracted continuous press notice nationwide, an early example of a socialite functioning as a style influencer. At the Metropolitan Opera she was described as wearing a pale blue velvet gown trimmed with silver embroidery, with a rose-colored velvet bodice and a diamond tiara. Reports from cities as far away as Lincoln, Nebraska, and St. Louis, Missouri, detailed her street suits, furs, and hats, showing that her fashion sense was followed beyond New York society.

In September 1899 Mary appeared in a charity theatrical in Newport organized by the Earl of Yarmouth. She sang a French ballad to considerable praise. At a 1904 charity fair at Harbor Hill, the home of Clarence and Katherine Mackay, Mary worked as a “saleslady” in period costume, her presence noted for charm and effectiveness.

A long-circulated story claimed that Chicken à la King originated at Delmonico’s in the late 1890s at the suggestion of either Mr. or Mrs. Foxhall Keene, and was first known as Chicken à la Keene. Although impossible to verify with certainty, the story was widely repeated.

Separation and Divorce Despite their glamorous social life, the marriage did not endure. In 1904 Mary left Foxhall Keene and returned to her father’s household. The reasons were never publicly disclosed. There were hints of financial disagreements, despite both being independently wealthy. Mary, like her father, was a vegetarian, which contemporary gossip occasionally mentioned in speculation about “incompatibility,” but no substantial explanation ever appeared in the press. In 1909 Mary obtained a divorce from Foxhall on the grounds of abandonment.

Later Life and Death Mary continued to appear occasionally at charitable and civic events. In June 1911 she served as a judge at a working-horse parade, where her attire—an elegant black gown and hat trimmed with black ribbon—was still described in detail by reporters, though the tone was more respectful than breathless. Over time she withdrew from the social scene. She lived quietly in New York during her later years and died there in 1942 at the age of eighty-two.