Edith Roosevelt

Edith Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909, during the presidency of her husband, Theodore Roosevelt. She was known for her strong personality, her support of the Arts and Crafts movement, and her involvement in various social causes, including the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Edith Roosevelt was also a close friend of Henry Adams, John Hay, and Elihu Root, and she often hosted dinner parties and social events at the White House that brought together prominent figures from Washington, D.C., including Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and Owen Wister. Her interests and activities were influenced by her connections to New York City, Boston, and London, where she had spent time with her family and friends, including Society of the Cincinnati members and Metropolitan Museum of Art patrons.

● Early Life and Education

Edith Roosevelt was born on August 6, 1861, in Norwich, Connecticut, to Charles Carow and Gertrude Tyler Carow. She grew up in a wealthy family and was educated at home, with a focus on literature, music, and art. She was particularly drawn to the works of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens, and she developed a strong interest in history, which was encouraged by her friendships with Henry Cabot Lodge and Albert Bushnell Hart. Edith's family was connected to the Astor family and the Vanderbilt family, and she often spent time at their estates in Newport, Rhode Island, and The Hudson River Valley. Her early life was also influenced by her relationships with Alice Lee Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and other members of the Roosevelt family, as well as her connections to Harvard University and Columbia University.

● Marriage and Family

In 1886, Edith married Theodore Roosevelt, who was a widower with a young daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt. The couple had five children together: Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Kermit Roosevelt, Ethel Roosevelt Derby, Archibald Roosevelt, and Quentin Roosevelt. Edith was a supportive wife and mother, and she often accompanied her husband on his hunting trips and diplomatic missions, including visits to Europe, Asia, and Africa. She was also a close friend of Dorothy Whitney Straight, Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, and Lady Curzon, and she often hosted garden parties and charity events at the White House and Sagamore Hill, which were attended by prominent figures from Society of the Cincinnati, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The New York Times.

● White House Years

As First Lady, Edith Roosevelt was known for her elegance and refinement, and she brought a sense of culture and sophistication to the White House. She was a strong supporter of the arts, and she often hosted concerts and exhibitions at the White House, featuring the works of John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Winslow Homer. Edith was also a close friend of Isabella Stewart Gardner, Mrs. Jack Gardner, and Julia Ward Howe, and she often worked with them on charity projects and social causes, including the National Council of Women and the American Red Cross. Her time in the White House was marked by significant events, including the Pan-American Exposition, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Algeciras Conference, which were influenced by her relationships with John Hay, Elihu Root, and William Howard Taft.

● Later Life and Death

After leaving the White House in 1909, Edith Roosevelt continued to be involved in social causes and charity work, including her support for the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also remained close to her friends and family, including Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Kermit Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt, and she often spent time at Sagamore Hill and Campobello Island. Edith Roosevelt died on September 30, 1948, at the age of 87, in Oyster Bay, New York, and she was buried at Youngs Memorial Cemetery alongside her husband, Theodore Roosevelt. Her legacy was celebrated by her friends and family, including Dorothy Whitney Straight, Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, and Lady Curzon, and she remains an important figure in American history, with connections to Harvard University, Columbia University, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

● Legacy and Impact

Edith Roosevelt's legacy is marked by her support of the arts and social causes, as well as her role as a First Lady and a wife and mother. She was a strong and independent woman who was not afraid to speak her mind and pursue her interests, and she remains an inspiration to women today, including those involved in the National Council of Women, the American Red Cross, and the Society of the Cincinnati. Edith's relationships with prominent figures, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Adams, and Elihu Root, have been the subject of numerous biographies and historical studies, including works by Edmund Morris, H.W. Brands, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her life and legacy continue to be celebrated and studied by historians and scholars at Harvard University, Columbia University, and other institutions, including the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Roosevelt Study Center.