That Blossomed

1884 - 1962

Eleanor was born into a distinguished New York City family to parents Anna and Elliot Roosevelt. Her father, was the younger brother of President Theodore Roosevelt. Her mother died in 1892 and her father died just two years later. After her mother’s death she moved to live with her grandmother, Valentine Hall.

Educated by private tutors until age 15, she then attended Allenswood, a distinguished girl’s school in England. It was here, through the guidance of the headmistress, Mademoiselle Marie Souvestre, she was finally able to develop her initial self-confidence among other girls.

At 18, she returned to New York and lived with her cousins. She focused her talents on social work, the Junior League and became a teacher at the Rivergton Street Settlement House.

In 1903, the tall, slender, graceful, but apprehensive young woman became engaged to her fifth cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Two years later, they married. Her uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt gave the bride away at their wedding. Over the next eleven years Eleanor and Franklin had six children, one of whom died in infancy.

Franklin rose up the ranks in politics from State Senator to Assistant Secretary of the Navy. In 1921, he contracted polio. It was Eleanor who stayed by his side and devoted her life to supporting her husband’s political aspirations.

In 1933, Eleanor became America’s first lady. She was actively involved with many projects, especially those of improving social conditions for all.

She held press conferences, gave lectures throughout the country, radio broadcasts and even had her own daily syndicated newspaper column called, “My Day” in which she candidly expressed her opinions in.

Mrs. Roosevelt continued her public life, even after the death of President Roosevelt on April 12, 1945. She became a vocal supporter for the rights and needs of the poor, of minorities and of the disadvantaged.

She then served as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations and helped draft the UN Declaration of Human Rights. It remains the most far-reaching of all UN declarations on behalf of fundamental freedoms and economic and social rights.

Eleanor also wrote four wonderful books, including: This is My Story (1937); This I Remember (1950); On My Own (1958); and Tomorrow Is Now) published in (1963) after her death.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed her head of the Commission of the Status of Women.

Eleanor Roosevelt, the wallflower that blossomed, did more for social justice and women’s rights than any other woman in our history. We are all glad that she put into practice one of her most memorable quotes, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”