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Businesswoman Helen Richardson was born in circa 1887 and met painter Joseph Stella in 1920 after coming from France to New York City with her children. The two entered what Richardson described as a common law pact as Stella had a wife from a previous marriage with whom he had lost contact. Richardson and her children lived with Stella until he left for Europe in 1927, where she subsequently joined him in 1929. Following the death of Stella's brother, Antonio, and the loss of the financial support that Antonio had provided, the two returned to New York and separated in 1929.
Richardson wrote to E. P. Richardson in 1957 offering her assistance in reviving interest in Stella's work by providing what details she could about their time together and her knowledge of his life after their separation.
