Ellen Axson Wilson

Ellen Axson Wilson was the first wife of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1913 until her death in 1914. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and was known for her strong Christian faith, which influenced her charitable work and social activism, often in collaboration with organizations like the Young Women's Christian Association and the Salvation Army. Ellen Axson Wilson was also an accomplished artist, having studied at the Art Students League of New York under the tutelage of Kenyon Cox and Douglas Volk. Her artistic talents were often showcased at events hosted by the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Art.

● Early Life and Education

Ellen Axson Wilson was born on May 15, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia, to Samuel Edward Axson and Margaret Jane Hoyt Axson. She spent her childhood in Rome, Georgia, and later moved to New York City to pursue her artistic interests, often visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. Ellen Axson Wilson's education was influenced by her family's strong ties to the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and she attended the Rome Female College in Rome, Georgia, which was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Her artistic talents were nurtured by her teachers, including Howard Pyle and William Merritt Chase, who were both prominent figures in the American art scene, with connections to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the National Academy of Design.

● Marriage and Family

In 1885, Ellen Axson Wilson married Woodrow Wilson, who was then a professor at Bryn Mawr College and later became the president of Princeton University. The couple had three daughters: Margaret Wilson, Jessie Wilson Sayre, and Eleanor Wilson McAdoo. Ellen Axson Wilson was a supportive wife and mother, often accompanying her husband to events hosted by the Democratic National Committee and the Progressive Party (United States, 1912). She was also an active participant in the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which were both influential organizations in the women's suffrage movement in the United States, with ties to figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

● First Lady of

the United States As the First Lady of the United States, Ellen Axson Wilson was known for her simplicity and lack of pretension, often hosting events at the White House that showcased her artistic talents, such as exhibitions of her paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Art. She was a strong supporter of her husband's policies, including the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, which were both signed into law during his presidency. Ellen Axson Wilson was also an advocate for the women's suffrage movement in the United States, often attending events hosted by the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the Women's Trade Union League, which were both influential organizations in the fight for women's rights, with connections to figures like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

● Artistic Pursuits and Interests

Ellen Axson Wilson was a talented artist, and her paintings were often exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Art. She was particularly interested in landscape painting and portrait painting, and her work was influenced by the Hudson River School and the American Impressionism movement, with connections to artists like Thomas Cole and Mary Cassatt. Ellen Axson Wilson was also a member of the National Arts Club and the Society of American Artists, which were both prominent organizations in the American art scene, with ties to figures like William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri.

● Death and Legacy

Ellen Axson Wilson died on August 6, 1914, at the White House due to complications from Bright's disease, a kidney condition that was prevalent at the time, and was often treated at hospitals like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Her death was a significant loss for her husband, Woodrow Wilson, who was deeply affected by her passing, and later married Edith Bolling Galt Wilson. Ellen Axson Wilson's legacy as a First Lady of the United States and an artist continues to be celebrated, with her paintings and other artifacts on display at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and the National Museum of American History, which are both part of the Smithsonian Institution. Her contributions to the women's suffrage movement in the United States and her support for the arts in the United States are still recognized today, with connections to organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Women's Hall of Fame. Category:First Ladies of the United States