First Lady Edith Kermit Carow (I43106)
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Personal Facts and Details
  Events of close relatives | |
| Birth | 6 August 1861 Norwich, Connecticut |
| Marriage | 2 December 1886 (Age 25) Pres. Theodore Roosevelt - [View Family (F18749)]
London England |
| Death | 30 September 1948 (Age 87) |
| Universal Identifier | 6A84E1B81C4EAD4F9C7B8F927FF2EDCF5221 |
| Burial | Young's Memorial Cemetery,Oyster Bay, New York |
| Last Change | 6 December 2006 - 11:33:38 Last changed by: dcoplien |
Notes
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Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt Born: August 6, 1861, in Norwich, Connecticut Died: September 30, 1948, in Oyster Bay, New York Father: Charles Carow Mother: Gertrude Tyler Carow Ancestry: English Siblings: one sister, Emily Carow (immortalized by Alice Roosevelt who named her snake, "Emily Spinach" after her) Physical Description: 5' 7" tall, 125 pounds (her weight increased after she left the White House, much to her horror), with blue-grey eyes and dark brown hair, which tended to be very fine and hard to manage. She held herself extremely well, had good features, but tended to be on the stern side. Her manner had a calming effect on her active family—"eye of a hurricane"—but she could be aloof and at times, even haughty. Religion: Episcopalian Education: Due to Charles Carow’s poor business sense and the overspending by Edith’s mother, there weren’t sufficient funds to provide Edith with the education normal for a girl of her family’s position. Martha Bullock Roosevelt (Theodore's mother) made it possible for her young "Edie" to attend classes given by her sister-in-law. At age ten, Edie attended classes at Miss Comstock's School where her strong moral sense was bolstered and as well as her love for literature, especially poetry and Shakespeare. Science and math were omitted but she learned to love flowers and was able to name all varieties, even wildflowers. Husband: Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) Courtship and Marriage: Edith met Theodore and his family at the age of four and grew up with the Roosevelt children; she was friends with Roosevelt's sister, Corrine. By the time she was sixteen, Theodore Roosevelt had taken notice of her. He proposed many times but at some point in 1878, they quarreled and coolness grew between them. (The quarrel may have had to do with Theodore’s father’s warning about Charles Carow.) Edie was heartbroken at the news of Theodore’s engagement to Alice Hathaway Lee but hid it well. She bragged about dancing at their wedding in October of 1880. Her father’s died in 1883 and her mother’s moved to Europe (where she resided with Edith’s sister Emily for the rest of her life, much to Edith’s relief), while Edie remained in the U.S. She attended Alice Hathaway Rooselt’s funeral in February 1884 but made it a point to avoid her old flame. Nevertheless, in September 1885, the romance rekindled. Theodore proposed and Edith accepted on November 17, 1885. Edith sailed early the next year to help her mother settle in Italy, and Theodore agreed to join her in Europe. They were married on December 2, 1886 at St. George’s Church in London and honeymooned in France. They returned to America early in 1887. Age at Marriage: 25 years, 118 days Personality: Intelligent, widely read, with a great interest in nature, literature and family life. Edith Roosevelt was the opposite, in nature, from her ebullient and outgoing husband: she was reserved, even aloof, and could use her manner to indicate her disapproval. She was calm and soothing in manner, tactful in conversation but forceful if threatened in any way. She had high standards of morals and would refuse to receive anyone who did not meet those standards. She did not believe in equality between the sexes and believed that a woman’s role was as wife and mother. She was religious and deplored a double standard for men and women. She liked riding and taking nature walks but all within reason. She would prefer to curl up with a book. Her reserved manner could make her a fearsome figure. |
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Family with Parents - [View Family (F18748)] |
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Family with Pres. Theodore Roosevelt - [View Family (F18749)] |
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