Hello All,
As many of you already know, Eleanor grew up in a
wealthy home in a ritzy area of New York. Her uncle, Former President Theodore
Roosevelt, helped the Roosevelt clan reach and maintain celebrity amongst the
American public. His work in social reforms undoubtedly influenced Eleanor as
she grew older; reinforcing her tendency at doing good works and philanthropy.
| Roosevelt family portrait |
Born October 11, 1884 in New York City, Anna Eleanor
Roosevelt grew up in a lavish life that was struck by tragedy all too soon. At
the tender age of eight years old, Eleanor lost her mother and then her father
only two years later. Naturally, with such a tragic loss, it would be very easy
for a child to revert into themselves; however, boarding school in England
helped Eleanor regain her self confidence, setting the groundwork for the woman
she would become.
In her early twenties, Eleanor fell in love and
married her distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the future President of the
United States. Together, the pair had six children: Anna, James, Franklin,
Elliot, Franklin Jr. and John. The first Franklin died in infancy. Having many
children did not slow Eleanor down in the slightest. During the First World
War, Eleanor stayed active in the American Red Cross, among many other civic
duties.
| Eleanor visiting soldiers abroad. |
Eleanor’s public service prepared her for one of the
biggest trials she and Franklin would face together, his polio disease.
Franklin was diagnosed with polio in 1921 and suffered from limited mobility, making
everyday tasks difficult, especially for a future president. When Franklin took
office in 1933, Eleanor became his eyes and ears throughout the country. She
wanted to take charge of the situation dealt to her family and become a leading
role in American politics, forever changing the expectations of a First Lady. Her
biggest concerns were for family matters and women’s issues, but she spoke fervently
about Human Rights in press conferences and in her very own newspaper column, “My
Day”; which mainly dealt with the country’s poor and social justice for all.
When war broke out across the world for a second time, Eleanor did not hesitate
to visit U.S. troops overseas.
Despite Franklin's death in 1945, Eleanor continued
to work in public service for another fifteen years. She spent some time,
1945-1953, as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, as well as
participated in the Human Rights Commission.
Her greatest achievement would be when she helped draft the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. She wrote several autobiographies, including On My Own (1958) and Autobiography (1961)
and she later appointed chair of the Commission on the Status of Women by
President John F. Kennedy.
Eleanor’s work throughout her life was invaluable
for women, then and now. She changed the way women were viewed, not only in politics,
but in the work force as well. Eleanor passed away at 78 years old to cancer.
Her humanitarian efforts and political fervor has created a long lasting legacy
for all women to aspire towards.
Take Care,
Elizabeth
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