 She was born as Aline Murray on August 1, 1888, in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of Ada Foster Murray, a poet; and Kenton C. Murray, editor of the "Norfolk Landmark" newspaper.Ada Foster Murray remarried on February 22, 1900, in Metuchen, New Jersey, to Henry Mills Alden.Henry was the managing editor of "Harper's Magazine", and he became Aline's stepfather.