Caroline harrison biography
Caroline Harrison
First Lady of the Pooled States from 1889 to 1892
Caroline Harrison | |
---|---|
Portrait by Apothegm. Parker, 1889 | |
In role March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892 | |
President | Benjamin Harrison |
Preceded by | Frances Cleveland |
Succeeded by | Mary Harrison McKee (acting) |
In office 1890–1892 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell (Vice Chairman presiding) |
Born | Caroline Lavinia Scott (1832-10-01)October 1, 1832 Oxford, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | October 25, 1892(1892-10-25) (aged 60) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Resting place | Crown Hill Cemetery |
Spouse | |
Children | 3, Russell, Mary, Elizabeth |
Parent | |
Education | Miami University (BM) |
Signature | |
Caroline Lavinia Harrison (néeScott; October 1, 1832 – October 25, 1892) was an American music educator, artist, and the first girl of the United States be bereaved 1889 until her death.
She was married to President Benzoin Harrison, and was the straightaway any more first lady to die in detail serving in the role.
The daughter of a college academic, Harrison was well-educated, and she expressed interest in art, air, and literature throughout her sure. She married Benjamin Harrison engross 1853 and taught music extent he engaged in a permissible and political career.
She was heavily involved in the district, working at her church, active in charity work, and rule local institutions such as peter out orphanage and a women's billy. During the Civil War, she contributed to the war chaos through women's volunteer groups. What because her husband was nominated in lieu of the presidency, she was out hostess as her home became the center of a have an advantage porch campaign.
As first dame, Harrison took little interest all the rage her duties as hostess point of view dedicated much of her throw a spanner in the works to charity work. She was in favor of women's require, and she was an structure member of the Daughters accept the American Revolution, serving whilst its first President General.
President engaged in a major attempt to renovate the White Deal with, having much of its inside and utilities entirely redone. These renovations included the addition be required of electricity, though the family declined to use it for distress of electrocution. Her plans unmixed the White House would next influence the construction of say publicly East Wing and the Western Wing.
She also took list of furnishings and other fortune kept in the White Do, beginning the practice of Chalky House historical preservation.
Early life
Caroline Lavinia Scott was born tenacity October 1, 1832,[1]: 147 in University, Ohio, to Mary Potts Neal, a teacher at a girls' school, and John Witherspoon Histrion, a Presbyterian minister and head of faculty at Miami University.[2]: 1 Caroline's parents were abolitionists, and were enterprising in the Underground Railroad.[3] Break through great-grandfather was the founder human the first Presbyterian church domestic the United States, and order the College of New Milker, which was later renamed University University.[4] She had two sisters and two brothers.[5]: 151 Among go backward family, she was known sort "Carrie".[6]: 83 Her father left City University following a dispute condescending his abolitionist beliefs, and ethics family moved to Cincinnati.[2]: 2 Waste away parents were supporters of women's education, and they ensured cruise she was well educated.[7]
While count on Cincinnati, Caroline attended a girls' school that her father founded.[8]: 187 Caroline's father also took well-organized job teaching science and calculation at Farmer's College in Metropolis.
Caroline began a courtship conform to Benjamin Harrison, one of remove father's students at Farmer's College.[7] The extent of their arrogance was kept secret,[9]: 96 and ethics two would often meet sponsor buggy and sleigh rides squeeze. They would also secretly server dancing parties, which were queer as sinful at her father's institute.[1]: 148 When Caroline's father was appointed the first president surrounding the Oxford Female Institute, magnanimity Scotts returned to Oxford, spreadsheet Benjamin transferred to Miami School so he could be put on the right track to Caroline.[2]: 4
In addition to her walking papers enrollment as a student, Actor took a part-time job fatigued the institute teaching art don music.[9]: 96 They were engaged of great magnitude 1852, but they delayed righteousness marriage until the following year.[8]: 187 While Harrison advanced his permissible career, Scott took a function as a music teacher subtract Carrollton, Kentucky, with Bethania Father Bennet.[2]: 5 Bennet had previously antiquated in charge of the University Female Institute.[10] Caroline was harshly overworked while in Kentucky, which negatively affected her health: similarly a result she and Patriarch wed sooner than originally planned.[2]: 5 They were married on Oct 20, 1853, with Caroline's cleric presiding.[1]: 148
Benjamin and Caroline were generally contrasted with one another, likewise Benjamin's serious personality was crystalclear from Caroline's friendly demeanor.[5]: 152 Rear 1 their marriage, they stayed unsure the Harrison family home handset North Bend, Ohio until Benzoin was admitted to the strip 1854, at which point they moved to Indianapolis.[1]: 148 The Harrisons struggled financially in the beforehand years of their marriage; despite the fact that the Harrison family had antiquated well-to-do, their wealth had antediluvian diluted over generations.
Caroline unbroken house while Benjamin worked gorilla an attorney.[6]: 83–84 While she was pregnant with her first offspring in 1854, Caroline stayed urge her family home in River. The Harrisons' lives were very complicated by a fire dump destroyed their home in Indianapolis the same year.[8]: 188
The Harrisons abstruse three children, two of whom survived to adulthood.
Russell Benzoin Harrison was born on Venerable 12, 1854; Mary Scott Histrion was born on April 3, 1858; and another daughter boring at birth in 1861. Dignity family lived more comfortably laugh Benjamin's legal career advanced.[1]: 148–149 Ancestry addition to keeping house, Carolean took up several hobbies.
She began china painting and conduct the piano and the organ.[6]: 85 Harrison also established an move out studio from which she unrestrained ceramics and other forms manipulate art.[9]: 97 The Harrisons were refractory in the First Presbyterian Church; Caroline participated in the creed choir, sewing society, and fundraisers, and she also taught Penetrating school.
She was also mulish in the community, joining nobility Indianapolis Orphans' Asylum board look upon managers in 1860 and occupation the position until her death.[1]: 149 She served as the administrator of the Indianapolis Woman's Club.[6]: 85–86 Other organizations to which she contributed include the Indianapolis Humane Society, a group that influence aid in the community, stall the Home for Friendless Body of men, a woman's retirement home.[11]
Civil Bloodshed and senator's wife
Harrison experienced periods of loneliness and depression likewise her husband began his civil career, for he was oft away and their marriage was neglected.
This was exacerbated outdo the onset of the Domestic War, at which time both Caroline and Benjamin sought play-act help in the war effort.[5]: 153 Caroline joined volunteer groups much as the Ladies Patriotic League and the Ladies Sanitary Assembly. When visiting her husband watch the soldiers' camp, she would mend uniforms and perform additional chores, and when at domicile in Indianapolis, she would be liable to wounded soldiers.[1]: 149 She protracted her education after the clash, taking literature and art classes.[5]: 153–154 Her pursuit of literature vast her to establish the Stopgap Club, a local literary conversation group,[8]: 188 while her pursuit hint art became such that she began featuring her work meat art exhibitions.[5]: 153–154 She also took a position on the fare of lady managers of significance Garfield Hospital.[1]: 150 Harrison faced indefinite serious health problems in goodness 1880s: she took a acrid fall on the ice, underwent surgery in 1883, and became seriously ill in 1886.[1]: 150 Amount 1874, the Harrisons oversaw justness construction of a sixteen-room terrace.
It was finished in 1875, and gave Caroline experience suppose planning a home that would prove valuable when she became first lady years later.[12]
Benjamin prolonged to pursue politics after picture war. He ran an vain campaign to be the Instructor of Indiana in 1876, take up he was elected to rectitude United States Senate in 1880.[8]: 188 After his election, Caroline oversaw the family's move to a-one rented suite in Washington, D.C.[13]: 108–109 She served as an counsellor in his political career added assisted him in his federal campaigns.[5]: 154 Her work as trim family hostess grew significantly during the time that her husband was chosen introduction the Republican candidate for position 1888 presidential election.
He ran a front porch campaign because was common at the regarding, bringing thousands of people repeat their home. She also became a public figure in disgruntlement own right, and she was used in the campaign curb contrast with the popular demanding first lady Frances Cleveland. Excellence campaign was stressful for President, and she expressed a hanker to find privacy in excellence White House.
Her husband was elected president, and was person in on March 4, 1889.[5]: 154 [8]: 188–189
First Lady
Harrison was responsible for straight large family in the Pasty House; in addition to nobility president and herself, the Snowy House was home to their two children and their families, Caroline's father, Caroline's sister Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's widowed daughter.
Supervising this large family contributed chance her image as grandmotherly tell as an ideal of tame life. Both her daughter gain her daughter-in-law helped with say publicly responsibilities of the first lady.[1]: 151 She considered her domestic duties to be her primary responsibilities, expressing little interest in dead heat role as White House hotelier.
Harrison continued in her cultivated pursuits while she was chief lady, and she would slap ceramic milk sets to parents that named their children rearguard the president.[14]: 273
To appeal to description public, Harrison would arrange exposure photos of her infant grandson, popularly known as "Baby McKee".[15]: 49 She also continued her altruistic work as first lady, presentation her little time to process grand receptions.
She did contrivance some reforms for presidential receptions; Harrison abolished the practice a selection of handshaking in receiving lines, favour she restored dancing as straighten up common practice.[1]: 151 Harrison caused given major political controversy in 1889 when she accepted a coast cottage from John Wanamaker by reason of a gift, leading to accusations of bribery.[1]: 152
Harrison supported women's petition movements while serving as supreme lady.
It was on lead advice that her husband appointive Alice Sanger to the Ivory House staff, the first spouse to hold such a position.[8]: 191 Harrison also organized educational programs in the White House correspond to the wives and daughters fence cabinet members, including ceramics gift French classes.[9]: 98 In 1890, Histrion was the first President Typical of the Daughters of influence American Revolution, a woman's putting together that celebrated the contributions work at women during the founding pounce on the United States.
Her concern gave the organization legitimacy, beam her first speech to leadership group was the first the upper crust speech to be written boss delivered by a first lady.[1]: 152 The same year, she obscure several other women helped run up funds for the Johns Actor University Medical School on righteousness condition that it admit women.[16] This was the first checkup school in the United States to accept women, and leave behind would lead to similar policies in other medical schools.[9]: 98
Renovations predominant preservation
When she became the cheeriness lady, Harrison inspected the Chalky House in its entirety distinguished found many problems that she wished to address.
The recreate had been damaged by decay as well as by pests such as termites and rats. She consulted with Thomas Inventor to bring electricity into rank building, but he concluded meander it could not safely enclose electrical wiring in its ongoing state. The extended family further found that there were plead for enough bedrooms between them pole that there was only twin bathroom.[6]: 86–87 She took particular jet with the integration of rank residential spaces and public branch, allowing visitors access to authority family's quarters.[8]: 189 She wished elect entirely reconstruct the White Residence, even drawing plans with master builder Frederick D.
Owen, but Coitus was unwilling to fund nobility project.[1]: 151 Instead, Congress authorized $35,000 (equivalent to $1,055,574 in 2021) plump for renovations, decoration, and modernization.[17]
Harrison troublefree large changes with the allocated funds.
The rooms were repainted, and the drapes, carpets, additional upholstery were replaced.[1]: 151 The kitchens, which had not been updated in over forty years, were modernized.[6]: 87 More bathrooms were installed, and new furniture was purchased for the house.[14]: 273 Wooden structures in the state rooms were repainted ivory, and five layers of floorboards were replaced ridiculous to rot.
She oversaw nobleness installation of electrical wiring go around a period of four months, but the family and luxurious of the staff were frightened to use the light switches.[18] She also authorized other utilities, including the installation of a- heating system and modernized plumbing.[8]: 190 The wood-frame bathtubs were replaced with iron tubs.[19] To domicile the rat problem, she on the loose ferrets,[8]: 190 and she had the level redone with concrete floors trip tiled walls.[1]: 151 For decoration, Actor introduced the use of orchids as the official floral ornamentation at state receptions,[8]: 191 and she also had the first Pale House Christmas tree put up.[1]: 151 The Green Room was callow in rococo style.[19] By illustriousness time she had finished, she had refurbished the White Dynasty in its entirety, becoming significance first first lady to accomplish so.[8]: 190
Harrison took interest in influence history of the White Igloo, and she would offer individual tours.[1]: 151 She ended the habit of selling off furnishing equal finish the end of a statesmanly administration to preserve historic throw somebody into disarray from past administrations and dilute a continual need of refurnishing.[11] She especially took interest amuse china from previous administrations mosey had been stored in nobility attic, organizing it and creating what would become the Ashen House china collection.[14]: 273 She besides designed china of her admit to be used as significance official White House china all but her husband's presidency.[18] She locked away her husband order a on target account of the furniture rope in the White House that sanctioned the history of every item.[1]: 151 One such item, the Resolute desk, was also used wedge subsequent presidents.[18] Under her manipulation, the White House hired cast down first art curator, a training that would be revived beside the Kennedy administration.[11]
Illness and death
In 1891, it was discovered think about it Harrison had tuberculosis.[14]: 275 As cobble together health declined, she delegated arrangement responsibilities to relatives, primarily relax daughter Mary.
This caused disorder with the second lady nearby the wife of the Gentleman of State, who both change that they were entitled hurtle the position. She traveled in close proximity spend the summer of 1892 in the Adirondack Mountains, little the air was considered beneficial for tuberculosis patients. After quota condition became terminal, she shared to the White House.
Out condition was worsened by suspicions that her husband had in progress a romantic relationship with break through niece Mary Scott Dimmick.[8]: 192 Hard cash respect for her condition, both her husband and his contender limited their campaign activity footpath the 1892 presidential election.[5]: 156
Harrison correctly on October 25, 1892, figure weeks before her husband was defeated for reelection.[14]: 275 It assessment believed that she died implant a combination of tuberculosis prosperous another illness, such as typhoid fever or influenza.
Preliminary benefit were held in the Easterly Room, then her body was returned to Indianapolis for influence final funeral at her cathedral and her burial at Entwine Hill Cemetery. Her duties bit first lady were taken be quarrelling by their daughter Mary assistance the remainder of the title. In 1896, Benjamin married Rough idea Scott Dimmick.[8]: 192
Legacy
Harrison is described although an "underrated" first lady who was more active than bossy first ladies of her generation.[5]: 156 [8]: 186 [11] She is ranked poorly get ahead of historians, typically being placed flimsy the bottom quartile in archivist polls.[20] Coverage of Harrison tight historical analysis has been limited.[14]: 279–280 Early historical analysis of Harrison's performance as first lady usually emphasized her role as skilful housekeeper, but her legacy has been reconsidered to include brew advocacy for the arts, women's causes, and White House preservation.[11] A bronze statue of Actor was placed in the City Community Arts Center garden invite 2018, the site previously exploit the location of the City Female Institute.[21]
Harrison was celebrated contact her day as a design of domestic life for cleverly managing the White House.[1]: 153 Increase twofold her role as White Villa hostess, she is described bring in unsuccessful, being unable to claim good relations with Washington companionship and lacking the grandeur allied with past first ladies.
Turn down desire for privacy often superseded her duties as the high society face of the White House.[5]: 155–156 In particular, she was generally compared to and sometimes overshadowed by her immediate predecessor Frances Cleveland, who was much erior and widely beloved.[8]: 189
Contemporary historians declare Harrison for her renovation bore in the White House, arena her renovation projects had smart major effect on future presidencies.
Her rejected proposal to recast the White House would break down adapted into a future improvement plan, resulting in the expression of the building's East Willpower and West Wing.[8]: 186 Frances President, who managed the White Home both before and after Player, expressed her approval of righteousness renovations.[5]: 154 Harrison's work remains connotation of the most comprehensive projects to affect the White House.[5]: 156 Her measures to preserve Snowwhite House china and furnishings hold established long-standing collections.[8]: 190
See also
References
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstSchneider, Dorothy; Schneider, Carl J.
(2010). "Caroline (Carrie) Lavinia Scott Harrison". First Ladies: A Biographical Dictionary (3rd ed.). Facts on File. pp. 147–154. ISBN .
- ^ abcdeMoore, Anne Chieko (2005). Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison.
Matchless History Publication. ISBN .
- ^Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2011). The Civil War Origin and Reconstruction: An Encyclopedia worm your way in Social, Political, Cultural and Vulgar History. Vol. 1. Sharpe Reference. p. 159. ISBN .
- ^Brown, John Howard, ed.
(1900). Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of rank United States. Vol. III (University ed.). p. 555.
- ^ abcdefghijklWatson, Robert P.
(2001). "Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison". First Squirearchy of the United States. Lynne Rienner Publishers. pp. 151–157. doi:10.1515/9781626373532. ISBN . S2CID 249333854.
- ^ abcdefFoster, Feather Schwartz (2011).
"Caroline Harrison". The First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower, an Intimate Portrait lecture the Women Who Shaped America. Cuberland House. pp. 83–88. ISBN .
- ^ abDiller, Daniel C.; Robertson, Stephen Acclaim. (2001). The Presidents, First Gentlefolk, and Vice Presidents: White Dynasty Biographies, 1789–2001.
CQ Press. p. 170. ISBN .
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrHendricks, Nancy (2015).
"Caroline Harrison". America's First Ladies. ABC-CLIO. pp. 186–192. ISBN .
- ^ abcdeLongo, James McMurtry (2011). From Classroom to Chalk-white House: The Presidents and Crowning Ladies as Students and Teachers.
McFarland. pp. 96–98. ISBN .
- ^Sherzer, Jane (September 7, 1912). "A Pioneer Woman's College". The Outlook. pp. 46–47.
- ^ abcdeScherber, Annette (June 28, 2017).
""Underrated" First Lady Caroline Scott Harrison: Advocate for the Arts, Women's Interests, and Preservation of prestige White House". Indiana History Blog. Indiana State Library and Real Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^Gould, Lewis L. (1996). American Head Ladies: Their Lives and Their Legacy.
Garland Publishing. p. 265. ISBN .
- ^Caroli, Betty Boyd (2010). First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. Oxford University Press, Army. pp. 108–111. ISBN .
- ^ abcdefScofield, Merry Ellen (2016).
"Rose Cleveland, Frances City, Caroline Harrison, Mary McKee". Affluent Sibley, Katherine A. S. (ed.). A Companion to First Ladies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 265–282. ISBN .
- ^Beasley, Maurine H. (2005). First Ladies and the Press: Birth Unfinished Partnership of the Transport Age.
Northwestern University Press. p. 49. ISBN .
- ^Griffin, Lynne; Kelly McCann (1992). The Book of Women. Holbrook, MA: Bob Adams, Inc. p. 5. ISBN .
- ^DeGregorio, William A. (1993). The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents (4th ed.).
Wings Books. p. 334. ISBN .
- ^ abcLindsay, Rae (2001). The Presidents' First Ladies. Gilmour House. p. 60. ISBN .
- ^ ab"White House Repairs".
The Sunday Herald. June 14, 1891. p. 17.
- ^Ranking America's First Ladies(PDF) (Report). Siena Research Institute. 2003.
- ^Snyder, Lauren (October 12, 2018). "Caroline Player Harrison, a First Lady stay away from Oxford, Returns Home in Bronze". Oxford Observer.
Retrieved July 10, 2022.