Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt
1901-1909

Edith Carow was born on August 6, 1861 in Norwich, Connecticut.
Edith family lived next door to the Roosevelt's. Edith was friends with Theodore Roosevelt t as well as his sisters.

By the time Roosevelt entered Harvard they were sweethearts. Unfortunately, they had a falling out and broke up. Theodore married Alice Hathaway Lee.

His wife, Alice, died shortly after their baby was born in 1884.

Edith and Theodore got back together and were married on December 2, 1886. She was 25. They were married in London, England.

Library of Congress

In 1900, Roosevelt was the Governor of New York. His wife urged him not to run for Vice President under McKinley. Theodore decided to run anyway.

In 1901, McKinley was assassinated and Teddy Roosevelt became President.

Mrs. Roosevelt not only handled the social events, her daughter's wedding, but she also supervised the addition of the East and West Wings to the White House.

She was the first First Lady to hire a social secretary to help control the family's image.

Their son, Quinton, was killed in battle during WW I.

Edith Roosevelt died on September 30, 1948 in Oyster Bay. She was 87. She is buried next to her husband.

Visit our site on U.S. Presidents

Books and Websites

Books

Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladiesby James Barber and Amy Pastan.
First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies) by Beatrice Gormeley.

Websites

http://www.firstladies.org/ National First Ladies Library
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/058_flal.htmlLibrary of Congress, Images of the First Ladies

Comments and/or corrections should be sent to Jim at jim@anewadventure.org.