Sara Delano Roosevelt

Sara Delano Roosevelt was a member of the prominent Delano family and the mother of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. She was born in Newburgh, New York, to Warren Delano Jr. and Catherine Robbins Lyman Delano, and grew up surrounded by the Hudson River Valley's natural beauty and the Delano family's wealthy lifestyle, which was influenced by their connections to the China trade and the Opium Wars. Her family's history was marked by their involvement in the American Civil War and their relationships with notable figures such as Robert Fulton and Martin Van Buren. Sara's upbringing was also shaped by her family's ties to the Episcopal Church and their summer home in Campobello Island, New Brunswick, where she would often visit with her family and develop a strong connection to the Canadian Maritimes.

● Early Life and Education

Sara Delano Roosevelt spent her early years in Newburgh, New York, and later moved to Albany, New York, where she attended the Albany Academy for Girls and developed a strong interest in literature and music, which was encouraged by her family's connections to the New York City cultural scene and their friendships with notable figures such as Edith Wharton and Henry James. She was particularly drawn to the works of William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and she would often attend performances at the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her education was also influenced by her family's travels to Europe, where they would visit cities such as Paris, London, and Rome, and meet with prominent figures such as Queen Victoria and Napoleon III. Sara's early life was marked by her family's involvement in the Women's suffrage movement and their support for the Abolitionist movement, which was led by figures such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.

● Family and Marriage

In 1880, Sara Delano Roosevelt married James Roosevelt I, a member of the Roosevelt family and a cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, at the Delano family's estate in Newburgh, New York. The couple had one son, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would go on to become the 32nd President of the United States. Sara's marriage was marked by her husband's involvement in the New York State Legislature and his friendships with notable figures such as Grover Cleveland and Chester A. Arthur. She was also close to her husband's family, including his brother Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt and his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles, and she would often visit with them at their estates in Oyster Bay, New York, and Hyde Park, New York. Sara's family life was influenced by her connections to the Astor family and the Vanderbilt family, and she would often attend social events at their estates, such as the Biltmore Estate and the The Breakers.

● Public Life and Philanthropy

Sara Delano Roosevelt was a prominent figure in New York City society and was involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the New York City Mission Society and the American Red Cross. She was also a supporter of the Women's suffrage movement and was friends with notable figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Sara's public life was marked by her attendance at high-profile events, such as the Coronation of King George V and the Wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, and her friendships with prominent figures such as Winston Churchill and Clementine Churchill. She was also involved in the Presidential election of 1932 and the Presidential election of 1936, and she would often advise her son, Franklin D. Roosevelt, on matters of state and diplomacy, including the Yalta Conference and the Potsdam Conference. Sara's philanthropic efforts were influenced by her connections to the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Rockefeller Foundation, and she would often work with notable figures such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller.

● Later Life and Legacy

In her later years, Sara Delano Roosevelt continued to be involved in philanthropic efforts and remained a prominent figure in New York City society. She was a strong supporter of her son's presidency and was often referred to as the "Queen Mother" of the Roosevelt family. Sara passed away on September 7, 1941, at the age of 86, at her home in Hyde Park, New York, surrounded by her family, including her son, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. Her legacy is remembered through her philanthropic efforts and her role as a matriarch of the Roosevelt family, and she is often mentioned alongside other notable women of her time, such as Dorothy Parker and Clare Boothe Luce. Sara's life and legacy are also commemorated at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, which are located in Hyde Park, New York, and are dedicated to preserving the history of the Roosevelt family and their contributions to American history.