The gender of inheritance in an upper-class family network: Dallas, 1895–1945.

This article examines gendered inheritance practices among the white upper-class population of Dallas from 1895 to 1945, revealing that women inherited three times more wealth than men despite the society’s patriarchal norms. Using comprehensive kinship data and probate records for 551 elites, it finds that men predominantly inherited income-producing assets like stocks and family businesses, while women received trusts, family homes, and personal property that provided status and financial security. The study identifies five main will types—partible, all to spouse, need-based, patrimonial, and philanthropic—with need-based wills often favoring unmarried female relatives to maintain their upper-class lifestyle. Overall, the findings suggest that gendered inheritance in this context formed a private family safety net that preserved wealth and status within an interconnected kinship network, benefiting women’s economic security even as men controlled wealth accumulation and financial power.