Grace Goodhue Coolidge
1923-1929

Grace Goodhue was born in Burlington, Vermont on January 3, 1879.
She attended the University of Vermont as a teacher. Grace attended the University of Vermont. She then moved to Northhampton, Massachusetts to teach. She taught at the Clark School for the Deaf.

Grace first saw Calvin Coolidge through the window of the boarding house next door. He was shaving and wearing only long underwear and a derby hat. She had to laugh.

Grace was very sociable and Calvin was very quiet. In fact later he was referred to as Silent Cal.

Library of Congress

They were married in her parents' home on October 4, 1905.

Mr. Coolidge was elected mayor of Northhampton.

Cal and Grace had two children both boys, John and Calvin.

Coolidge's political career continued. He was elected lieutenant governor and then governor of Massachusetts.

In 1921, Calvin became vice president under Warren Harding who died in 1923.

While Grace was First Lady, her son Calvin Jr. died from blood poisoning in 1924.

Coolidge did not seek another term as President. He announced his decision with out telling his wife.

In January 1933, Calvin died in Northhampton.

Grace continued to live a full life, traveling to Europe, taking her first airplane ride, and following the Boston Red Sox.

During WW II she helped bring refugee children to the U.S.

Mrs. Coolidge died on July 8, 1957 of a heart attack. She is buried beside Calvin in Plymouth, Vermont.

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.