Her Story: The Couture Collection of Chicago Civic Leader Maureen Dywer Smith

Maureen Dywer Smith, a respected Chicago civic leader and philanthropist, cultivated a wardrobe that reflected both sophistication and an eye for exceptional design. Her couture collection brings together garments by Ralph Rucci, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, and Emilio Pucci, paired with handbags from Chanel, Judith Leiber, and Hermès—pieces that speak to timeless style and impeccable taste.

Select pieces from Mrs. Smith’s refined wardrobe—curated with both elegance and practicality in mind—will be featured across three luxury auctions at Freeman’s | Hindman: Fall Fashion, Holiday Lux, and The Holiday Edit. More than a style icon, Maureen Dywer Smith was a dedicated patron of the arts, founder of the Joffrey Ballet Women’s Board, and a beloved figure in Chicago’s cultural and philanthropic circles.

TO BE OFFERED SEPTEMBER 12, CHICAGO | Hermès, Kelly 32 in Noir Box Leather | $4,000-6,000

Mrs. Smith was born in New York City on February 7, 1945, and grew up in New Rochelle, New York. She graduated from the Ursuline School before earning a B.A. in Painting and Studio Art from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in 1966. After college, she pursued graduate studies at The New School for Social Research in New York, focusing on the linguistic philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Mrs. Smith began her professional career in advertising at Benton & Bowles in New York. In 1968, she joined American Heritage Publishing Company, later Horizon Books as an associate editor. There, she researched and contributed to the writing and editing of seventeen art and history books, covering topics as diverse as Colonial America, Russia, and China.

TO BE OFFERED SEPTEMBER 12, CHICAGO | Emilio Pucci, Fuchsia Embellished Kaftan | $400-600

In 1974, Maureen married Edward B. (“E.B.”) Smith, Jr., and moved to Chicago. While in Chicago, Mrs. Smith began a new career as a retail consultant, primarily with Marshall Field & Co., while dedicating herself to civic leadership. She served as Chair of the Board of the Joffrey Ballet, where she also founded its Women’s Board. Her leadership was widely credited with helping to establish a sound financial and managerial foundation for the Joffrey Ballet.

TO BE OFFERED NOVEMBER 18, CHICAGO | Emilio Pucci, Pink Heavily Beaded Kaftan | $400-600

Mrs. Smith’s dedication to the arts and education extended to numerous other institutions. She was a Trustee of the Field Museum, the Chicago Public Library Foundation, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and After School Matters. She also co-authored 100 Masterpieces, the Art Institute of Chicago’s centennial publication. In addition, she served on the Women’s Boards of the Field Museum, the Art Institute, Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern University, the Alliance Française, the Goodman Theatre, the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Her commitment to civic engagement earned her shared awards from the Harvard Club of Chicago and DePaul University.

TO BE OFFERED NOVEMBER 18, CHICAGO | Emilio Pucci, Orange Embellished Kaftan | $400-600

Mr. and Mrs. Smith built significant collections of contemporary glass paperweights and American paintings, as well as secular and religious stained-glass windows spanning eight centuries. Much of their collection is now housed in Chicago museums.

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