Adeline Miller
Encyclopedia
Adeline Miller, alias Adeline Furman, was an American
madam
and prostitute
. According to her contemporary George Templeton Strong
, Miller had been active in New York City
prostitution since the late 1810s. By 1821, she was running a bordello on Church Street, where she had accumulated personal effects worth at least $500.
Over Miller's 30-year career, she became quite wealthy. At one point or another, Miller ran houses on Duane, Elm, Orange, and Reade streets. She owned but did not manage another brothel on Cross Street. Rumors suggested that in the 1840s, she charged her girls $14 a week to stay in her brothels. By 1855, she had many personal residences; the one on Church Street alone contained effects valued at $5,000.
Miller was a celebrity
as well. Her name appeared in tourist guidebooks and in the diaries of rich New Yorkers. The Libertine
opined that she and Phoebe Doty
, another madam, should rent New York's Park Theatre
and talk about their exploits. The paper predicted that "the house would be crammed if the entrance was five dollars a head. The bigger the harlot now-a-days the more money is made." By the 1840s, the aging Miller had become the subject of negative press, particularly from the Whip
. The paper called her a "grey-haired hag" and "the most wicked procuress in the city."
Miller had children, though all entered more mainstream professions.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
madam
Madam
Madam, or madame, is a polite title used for women which, in English, is the equivalent of Mrs. or Ms., and is often found abbreviated as "ma'am", and less frequently as "ma'm". It is derived from the French madame, which means "my lady", the feminine form of lord; the plural of ma dame in this...
and prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. According to her contemporary George Templeton Strong
George Templeton Strong
George Templeton Strong was an American lawyer and diarist. His 2,250-page diary, discovered in the 1930s, provides a striking personal account of life in the 19th century, especially during the events of the American Civil War...
, Miller had been active in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
prostitution since the late 1810s. By 1821, she was running a bordello on Church Street, where she had accumulated personal effects worth at least $500.
Over Miller's 30-year career, she became quite wealthy. At one point or another, Miller ran houses on Duane, Elm, Orange, and Reade streets. She owned but did not manage another brothel on Cross Street. Rumors suggested that in the 1840s, she charged her girls $14 a week to stay in her brothels. By 1855, she had many personal residences; the one on Church Street alone contained effects valued at $5,000.
Miller was a celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
as well. Her name appeared in tourist guidebooks and in the diaries of rich New Yorkers. The Libertine
Libertine
A libertine is one devoid of most moral restraints, which are seen as unnecessary or undesirable, especially one who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behavior sanctified by the larger society. Libertines, also known as rakes, placed value on physical pleasures, meaning those...
opined that she and Phoebe Doty
Phoebe Doty
Phoebe Doty was an American madam and prostitute. In 1821, she entered a bordello in the Five Points neighborhood of New York City. Over the next three years, she accrued $600 in personal belongings. For the next decade or so, Doty moved from house to house, eventually settling in a brothel on...
, another madam, should rent New York's Park Theatre
Park Theatre (Manhattan)
The Park Theatre, originally known as the New Theatre, was a playhouse in New York City, located at 21, 23, and 25 Park Row, about east of Ann Street and backing Theatre Alley. The location, at the north end of the city, overlooked the park that would soon house City Hall...
and talk about their exploits. The paper predicted that "the house would be crammed if the entrance was five dollars a head. The bigger the harlot now-a-days the more money is made." By the 1840s, the aging Miller had become the subject of negative press, particularly from the Whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
. The paper called her a "grey-haired hag" and "the most wicked procuress in the city."
Miller had children, though all entered more mainstream professions.