The Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation of Elkins Park highlighted today the military service of Peter A.B Widener II (1895-1948), a U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant, and Edith A. Standen (1905-1998), a Captain of the WAC, Monuments Men and Woman, each of whom “were a huge part of Lynnewood Hall’s history,” the Foundation said in a post.

From Mr. Widener’s military description:

Son of Joseph and Ella Widener, grandson of Peter A.B. Widener, “Arrell” grew up at Lynnewood Hall and served in the Great War from 1917-1919. Though he grew up with every convenience he could have ever wanted, he always desired to live a more ordinary life. While the war was bloody and gruesome, he saw it as an opportunity to enter the “real world” and credited it with giving him a solid grounding in life and democracy. He continued to work against war for the rest of his life and advocate for peace and unity.

From Mrs. Standen’s military description:

From 1929 to 1942, Edith worked at Lynnewood Hall as the Secretary to the Art Collection. An extremely prestigious position, she worked closely with Joseph Widener before leaving to join the war efforts in 1943. She served until 1947 when she returned to America and worked as the curator of the textiles department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1949-1970. Edith Standen is the only female member of the MFAA to have earned the Bronze Star. We encourage you to read further about her amazing life and career and will provide links in our stories and comment section.

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Photos: LHPF