Over 100 years ago, John and Julia Robertson made Barrington’s White House their home.  This historic tea event brings back the tradition of Julia Robertson’s Women’s Thursday Club and features honored “guest” Bertha Honoré Palmer. In this historical portrayal, set in 1893, Leslie Goddard, Ph.D., portrays the Chicago socialite and pace-setting arts patron. Although best remembered today as the wife of real estate magnate Potter Palmer, Mrs. Palmer made her own contributions to Chicago history. Learn how she helped recoup her husband’s losses after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, how she began collecting Impressionist art, and how she served as hostess to the world at the World’s Columbian Exposition. Gerri of High Tea with Gerri will give an introduction to the history and art of drinking tea. The afternoon tea includes a special blend of Earl Grey Breakfast tea, savories, finger sandwiches, scones, and petit fours served by Gerri’s staff using vintage teacups and plates.  

Through its inspiration of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Barrington residents John and Julia E. Robertson built their modified foursquare home in 1898 in the Classical Revival style. It quickly became the social center of the village. For the next 20 years, Julia gathered people in her home on Thursday afternoons for discussions of the times.  

Following the tradition she established, her home, the Barrington White House, currently on the National Register of Historic Places and the cultural and community center of the Village of Barrington, is reviving Julia’s Women’s Thursday Club by instituting an “An Afternoon Tea with Bertha Palmer”. 

NOTE: This event is entirely in-person. No virtual tickets are available.

If you are having trouble purchasing tickets please contact us at culturalevents@barringtonswhitehouse.com or 224-512-4066.