Gardner was born in Washington D.C. on December 31, 1871 to Frederick Hillsgrove Hall, editor of the Chicago Tribune, and Matilda L. Campbell. She attended school in Chicago, Paris, and Brussels, and attended and hosted society events in Chicago with her mother. On November 3, 1900, she married Harry "Dyke" Gilson Gardner, who was then a Washington correspondent for the Chicago Journal. He later worked as a Washington correspondent for the Scripps newspaper chain, with a circle of friends that included President Theodore Roosevelt. Gardner was a member of Washington high society, belonged to many clubs, and sat on many committees. She was involved in the arts, sitting on the executive committee of the Drama League and belonging to the National Folk-Craft Society.
