Mildred Albert (1905-1991) was born in Russia to a Jewish family and grew up in Roxbury. After graduating from the Sargent School, (now part of Boston University), she worked at Florence Street Settlement House in the South End where she taught art, dance, and literature to women and children. She later developed classes in posture and etiquette for the Boston elite. In 1931 she founded the first finishing school in Boston, The Academie Moderne, where young women learned how to prepare for entering society. Among others, journalist Janet Langhart was a student. Albert later coordinated fashion shows for charity and co-founded the first Boston Arts Festival. She served on the Board of Hebrew Teachers College, became known as the “First Lady of Fashion,” and enjoyed a secondary career as a media personality, where she was associated with radio stations WEEI and WCRB, and CBS TV’s Good Day Show.
