henrietta alice mccrea was born on august 4, 1888 into a wealthy chicago family at 764 west adams street. her father was wylie (willis) solon mccrea, a public utilities executive and member of the board of trade. her mother was alice e. snell, the daughter of a.j. snell. she had one brother, snell mccrea. when she was few months old, her mother filed for divorce, accusing her husband of cruelty, and moved with her daughter to paris.