- Listenly
- Public Library
- All Authors
- Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer
author
Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer
1848–1925
Remembered for lively books on New York society and historic homes, this American writer brought old houses, family traditions, and social customs to life for a wide audience. Her work blended local history, travel, and social observation in a way that still feels vivid and readable.
2 Audiobooks
The Devil's picture-books
by Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer
Prophetical, Educational and Playing Cards
by Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer
About the author
Born in 1848, May King Van Rensselaer wrote under the name Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer and became known for books about American society, domestic life, and historic places. She had a gift for turning architecture, interiors, and old family traditions into stories that felt approachable rather than academic.
Her books include works on old New York houses and social customs, and they reflect a strong interest in the history of everyday life. That mix of curiosity and storytelling helped preserve details of Gilded Age culture that might otherwise have faded from view.
She died in 1925. Today, her writing remains valuable both for readers who enjoy social history and for anyone interested in the world of old New York, its homes, and its traditions.