Mina Miller Edison

Mina Miller Edison was a member of the prominent Miller family of Akron, Ohio, and the second wife of the renowned inventor and entrepreneur, Thomas Edison. She was known for her strong personality, her support of her husband's work, and her own philanthropic efforts, which included working with organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Mina Miller Edison was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames of America, and was involved in various charitable activities, including supporting the New York City Mission Society and the YMCA. Her life was also influenced by her relationships with other notable figures, including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs.

● Early Life and Education

Mina Miller Edison was born in Akron, Ohio, to Lewis Miller and Mary Valinda Alexander Miller, and was raised in a family that valued education and philanthropy. She attended Miss Spenser's School for Girls in Akron, Ohio, and later studied at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut, where she developed her skills in music and art. Mina Miller Edison's family was friends with the family of John D. Rockefeller, and she often visited the Rockefeller family at their home in Cleveland, Ohio. She was also acquainted with other notable families, including the Carnegie family and the Vanderbilt family, and was involved in various social and charitable activities, including supporting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library.

● Marriage and Family

In 1886, Mina Miller Edison married Thomas Edison, who was 19 years her senior, and the couple had two children, Madeleine Edison and Charles Edison. The family lived at Glenmont, their estate in West Orange, New Jersey, which was also the site of Thomas Edison's laboratory and workshop. Mina Miller Edison was a supportive wife and helped to manage her husband's business and social affairs, often hosting events and gatherings at Glenmont for notable figures, including President Grover Cleveland, President Woodrow Wilson, and Alexander Graham Bell. She was also a member of the Women's National Republican Club and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, and was involved in various charitable activities, including supporting the American Committee for Devastated France and the War Relief Commission.

● Philanthropy and Social Work

Mina Miller Edison was a dedicated philanthropist and was involved in various charitable activities throughout her life, including supporting the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the YMCA. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames of America, and was involved in various historical preservation efforts, including the restoration of the Old Stone House in Brooklyn, New York. Mina Miller Edison was also a supporter of the New York City Mission Society and the Association for the Aid of Crippled Children, and was involved in various fundraising efforts, including the War Bond Drive during World War I. Her philanthropic work was influenced by her relationships with other notable figures, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Addams, and Clara Barton.

● Later Life and Legacy

Mina Miller Edison lived a long and fulfilling life, and was remembered for her strong personality, her support of her husband's work, and her own philanthropic efforts. After the death of her husband in 1931, she continued to manage the Edison estate and was involved in various efforts to preserve his legacy, including the establishment of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey. Mina Miller Edison passed away on August 24, 1947, at the age of 61, and was buried at Rosedale Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey, alongside her husband. Her legacy continues to be celebrated through her association with notable figures, including Nikola Tesla, George Westinghouse, and Guglielmo Marconi, and her contributions to the development of science and technology in the United States. Category:American philanthropists