Citation Needed The Divorce Colony
Nov 8, 2023
This podcast explores the history of divorce in the United States, focusing on the lax divorce laws in South Dakota in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It discusses the popularity of a luxury hotel known as 'the divorce colony' and introduces a scandalous love story from 1886. The podcast also delves into the challenges faced by couples seeking divorce, the historical lack of recognition for the right to divorce, and the significance of relocating to different regions. Overall, it provides intriguing insights into how women revolutionized marriage and found freedom on the American frontier.
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South Dakota Divorce Laws
- South Dakota had the laxest divorce laws in the 1890s, allowing divorce for unhappiness alone.
- Residency requirements were just 90 days, attracting wealthy women to live there temporarily for divorce.
Migratory Divorce Stigma
- Migratory divorce to South Dakota was mostly by wealthy women seeking freedom from bad marriages.
- Anti-divorce critics exaggerated the scale and impact, demonizing the "divorce colony" at the Cataract House hotel.
Mary Nevins' Divorce Battle
- Mary Nevins was a 24-year-old actress trapped in a miserable marriage to James Blaine Jr., a spoiled drunk son of a powerful politician.
- She moved to South Dakota to seek a divorce despite social stigma and financial struggles.