Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962

Eleanor-Roosevelt-WWP

Eleanor Roosevelt by Bernard T. Frydrysiak, 1946. The portrait is presented at the National Portrait Gallery. Credit - WWP team.

An activist, writer, first chair of UN Commission on Human Rights, and the most politically active First Lady in the US history.



Born in New York City to an affluent and politically dominant family, she became an orphan at the age of 8 and was raised by her grandmother. At 15 she was sent to London to study languages and arts in a private school, where her headmistress Marie Souvestre inspired her political and social awareness.

After returning to New York, she married her distant cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who later became the 32nd president of The United States. By his side, she was a politically active First Lady for no less than 12 years. The couple had six children.

In addition to advising her husband in his political career, she was an active member of various organizations promoting equal rights for women, racial and social justice. Her vast activity is said to have been boosted after finding out about her husband’s affair: she decided to stay by his side but availed herself to independent activism, and her own affairs with both women and men.

She was the author of several books, contributed content to many publications and radio shows, including the popular newspaper column “My Day,” which was published six days a week for 26 years, and delivered many speeches during her nationwide travels.

At 62 she was appointed to the first US delegation to the United Nations, where she was central in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Until her death, she was involved in policy making, notably chairing the President’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Most Iconic First Lady - Fast Facts | History

Learn about the life and work of Eleanor Roosevelt, a champion of equal rights who is credited with transforming the role of the First Lady in American politics, in this video. #Biography
Subscribe for more from HISTORY:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=historychannel

Explore the life of Eleanor Roosevelt:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt

Find out more about America's first ladies: http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies

10 things to know about the Roosevelts:
http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-roosevelts

A Warm Roosevelt Welcome:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt/videos/a-warm-roosevelt-welcome

Find out more about Eleanor Roosevelt's press conferences:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt/videos/the-roosevelts

Eleanor Roosevelt commemorates World Children's Day:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt/videos/eleanor-roosevelt-recites-the-declaration-of-human-rights

Explore the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt:
http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt

Stay up to date on history in the headlines:
%u202Ahttp://www.history.com/news/%u202C

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Website - http://www.history.com?cmpid=Social_YouTube_HistHome
Twitter - https://twitter.com/history
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/History

Bio Shorts
Season 1
Episode 1

Biography features in-depth profiles of the exceptional people whose lives and times stir our imagination. An Emmy award-winning documentary series, Biography thrives on rich details, fascinating portraits and historical accuracy, seasoned with insider insights and observations.

HISTORY®, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, epic miniseries, and scripted event programming. Visit us at HISTORY.com for more info.

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“I care so little about what ‘they’ say.”

“I care so little about what ‘they’ say.”

Fun Facts

  • At her wedding, she was walked down the aisle by her uncle, then US president, Theodore Roosevelt.
  • She was invited by the Queen to visit England during World War II, without her husband.
  • She took part in establishing a female-owned furniture cooperative in Val-Kill, New York.
  • During her time at the White House, she held 348 press conferences with women reporters only.
  • She was initially opposed to the movement calling for women’s right to vote.
  • Together with Michelle Obama, she is considered the tallest first lady as far as records show.
  • John F. Kennedy nominated her for Nobel Peace Prize, but she did not win it.
  • Two statues are honoring her legacy and contribution, in New York City and Washington, DC, and her home in Val-Kill is a National Historic Site.

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Eleanor Roosevelt: Most Iconic First Lady - Fast Facts | History

Learn about the life and work of Eleanor Roosevelt, a champion of equal rights who is credited with transforming the role of the First Lady in American politics, in this video. #Biography
Subscribe for more from HISTORY:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=historychannel

Explore the life of Eleanor Roosevelt:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt

Find out more about America's first ladies: http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies

10 things to know about the Roosevelts:
http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-roosevelts

A Warm Roosevelt Welcome:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt/videos/a-warm-roosevelt-welcome

Find out more about Eleanor Roosevelt's press conferences:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt/videos/the-roosevelts

Eleanor Roosevelt commemorates World Children's Day:
http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt/videos/eleanor-roosevelt-recites-the-declaration-of-human-rights

Explore the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt:
http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt

Stay up to date on history in the headlines:
%u202Ahttp://www.history.com/news/%u202C

Check out exclusive HISTORY content:
Website - http://www.history.com?cmpid=Social_YouTube_HistHome
Twitter - https://twitter.com/history
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/History

Bio Shorts
Season 1
Episode 1

Biography features in-depth profiles of the exceptional people whose lives and times stir our imagination. An Emmy award-winning documentary series, Biography thrives on rich details, fascinating portraits and historical accuracy, seasoned with insider insights and observations.

HISTORY®, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, epic miniseries, and scripted event programming. Visit us at HISTORY.com for more info.
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Tags: First Lady, Journalist, LGBTQ, The Pioneering Women of the National Mall Neighborhood, and WDC Metro Area Women

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Abigail-Smith-Adams-WWP
Activism & Feminism

Abigail Adams, 1744-1818

A Founding Mother of the United States, a Women’s Rights Advocate, and the Second First Lady.

Abigail Smith was born and raised in Massachusetts. Her father was a liberal minister, her mother was a member of the famous Quincy family mother, and she had two sisters. At a time when women were not allowed to receive a formal education, she was homeschooled and satisfied her appetite for knowledge at the family’s library, forming progressive views. After a two-year courtship, she married John Adams, a country lawyer, and became his closest advisor and partner. They settled in the house John had inherited from his father in Braintree, MA. When his practice expanded, John had to frequently travel while Abigail managed their finances, investments, household, and growing family. For a while, they even moved to Boston next to his practice. Between 1784 and 1788, Abigail joined John in his diplomatic missions in Paris and London. On March 4th, 1797, John became the second president of the United States, and she was the first lady. They lived in the Presidential Mansion in Philadelphia and later in the White House in Washington, DC. She was a politically active first lady, made frequent public appearances, and was involved in the decision-making process, paving the way for future first ladies to be proactive figures. When John lost presidential re-election, the family retired to Peacefield in Quincy in 1800. During his frequent travels before and during the presidency, the couple corresponded in more than 1100 letters, where Abigail demonstrated her talent for writing and opinionated spirit. In one of those letters, she urges her husband to consider women’s rights in the new legislation after independence, warning that if not given equal representation: “women will rebel.” He dismissed her suggestion by writing back that it makes him laugh, but her words “remember the ladies” became an iconic feminist slogan. Before her death, she wrote a will favoring her female relatives. It was an act of protest against the laws prohibiting married women from owning assets. Share:This post is also available in: Español Read more...
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Arts

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A feminist artist and sculptress, known as “The sculptor of the women’s suffrage movement.”

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Literature & Poetry

Adrienne Rich, 1929-2012

An award-winning American poet, essayist, and feminist thought influencer, who was called “one of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of the 20th century.”

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Alice-Dunbar-Nelson-WWP
Literature & Poetry

Alice Dunbar Nelson, 1875-1935

A poet, journalist, playwright, and political activist. Associated with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.

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