Helen Margaret Kelly

Helen Margaret Kelly. ca. 1901

Helen Margaret Kelly (1884 – August 2, 1952), also known as Princess Vlora of Albania during her third marriage, was an American socialite.

She was born in 1884 to Edward Kelly. She was the granddaughter of Eugene Kelly, a wealthy banker. On December 1, 1901, she married Frank Jay Gould.[1] They had twin daughters, Helen Gould and Dorothy Gould (1904–69), but divorced in 1908. The Wichita Daily Times in Wichita Falls, Texas, wrote, "Frank Jay Gould and his wife who was Helen Margaret Kelly have separated and it is said Mrs. Gould has brought action looking for a legal separation. Jealousy on the part of Mr. Gould, due, it is said, to the homage paid Mrs. Gould, who is a beautiful woman, by other men."[2]

In 1910, she married Ralph Hill Thomas (1882–1914) the nephew of the president of American Sugar Refining Company.[3] On June 20, 1917, she married Prince Nuredin Vlora from Albania (belonging to the Albanian Vlora dynasty), they divorced in 1922.[4] She married her fourth husband, Oscar M. Burke, president of the Manhattan Soap Company, on January 4, 1926. She died on August 2, 1952, in France.[5]

  1. ^ "Miss Helen M. Kelly Is Frank J. Gould's Bride; Was Wedded at the Home of Her Mother in This City. Only a Small Party of Relations and Friends Present. Protestant Episcopal Minister Performed the Ceremony". New York Times. December 3, 1901. Retrieved August 12, 2010. Miss Helen Margaret Kelly, the daughter of the late Edward Kelly and granddaughter of the late Eugene Kelly, the banker, was married yesterday afternoon to Frank J. Gould, the youngest son of the late Jay Gould.
  2. ^ "Frank Jay Gould". Wichita Daily Times. 1908.
  3. ^ "Ralph Hill Thomas Dead. American Sugar Refining Co. Official Who Married Mrs. F. J. Gould". New York Times. January 2, 1915. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
    - "Marriage License For Gould-Thomas. Mrs. Frank Could and Ralph Hill Thomas Obtain Their Permit to Wed. Mr. Thomas Says No Date Has Been Decided Upon, and Both Refuse to Tell Plans". New York Times. July 9, 1910. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  4. ^ "Former Mrs. Gould Divorced From Prince. Vlora of Albania Fails to Appear in Paris Court to Contest Suit". New York Times. October 11, 1922. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  5. ^ "Former Wife Of Frank Gould Dies In France". Chicago Tribune. August 2, 1952. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2010. Mrs Helen M Kelly 68 former wife of millionaire Frank Jay Gould died here today. ... She and her third husband the Albanian Prince Vlora were divorced ...