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Edith Roosevelt Facts & Worksheets

Edith Roosevelt was Theodore Roosevelt’s second wife, and was the 26th First Lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909.

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Edith Roosevelt was Theodore Roosevelt’s second wife, and was the 26th First Lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909. She also served as Second Lady of the United States (although this was an informal title) when Theodore Roosevelt was vice president from March to September 1901.

See the fact file below for more information on the Edith Roosevelt or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Edith Roosevelt worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

SIGNIFICANCE

  • Edith Roosevelt elevated the position of the First Lady, as she was the first First Lady to employ a full-time social secretary.
  • Her decision to employ a social secretary resulted in the creation of an official body of staff.

EARLY LIFE

  • Edith Roosevelt was born on August 6, 1861 in Norwich, Connecticut.
  • She was the daughter of a merchant, Charles Carow, and Gertrude Elizabeth Tyler.
  • Edith’s maternal grandfather, Daniel Tyler, was a known Union general in the American Civil War.
  • Edith had a younger sister named Emily Tyler Carow.
  • Edith had a brother called Kermit who did not live very long (from February to August 1860), so Edith never met him.
  • As a result, Edith’s middle name was Kermit, the name of her brother.
  • It was also the surname of their paternal great-uncle, Robert Kermit.
  • Edith was called “Edie” in her childhood.
  • Edith lived in a brownstone apartment in Union Square, New York City.
  • Theodore Roosevelt was her neighbor, and his younger sister, Corinne, was Edith’s best friend.

EDUCATION

  • From September 1864 until April 1869, Edith, Teddy, and Corinne, were privately schooled at the Roosevelt family house located on 28 East 20th Street, New York, and also at Anna Gracie Bulloch’s home.
  • Edith and her sister were raised by Mary Ledwith, an Irish immigrant nursemaid.
  • She was also privately schooled by Anna Bulloch Gracie, a mentor and family friend, and with the help of Theodore’s mother, Edith learned how to read.
  • Aside from reading, Anna Gracie also taught Edith needlework.
  • Theodore Roosevelt Sr. also took his children with Edith to the countryside.
  • Roosevelt Sr. wrote plays for the children to memorize and perform.
  • Roosevelt Sr. influenced Edith’s interest in reading and poetry, and from 1869 to 1871, Edith attended Dodsworth School for Dancing and Deportment in New York.
  • Aside from formally studying dancing, Edith was also taught proper social etiquettes of the elite.
  • From 1871 to 1879, Edith attended the Louise Comstock Private School on West Fortieth Street, New York.
  • The headmistress influenced Edith to be a highly moralistic and religious person.
  • Edith excelled in writing, and loved Shakespeare’s works.
  • Aside from English Literature, Edith was also taught English History, Latin, German, French, zoology, botany, physiology, arithmetic, philosophy, penmanship, singing, and music appreciation.

EDITH AND THEODORE

  • Edith Carow and Theodore Roosevelt began as childhood friends, as their family were also close to each other.
  • As teenagers, Edith Carow and Teddy had a romantic connection.
  • Teddy even named his boat after Edith.
  • However, when Teddy went to Harvard, he met Alice Lee, his first wife. They were married in 1880, a marriage that Edith attended.
  • Alice Lee Roosevelt died in 1884.
  • The following year, the connection between Teddy and Edith was revived.
  • On December 2, 1886, Teddy and Edith married in St George’s Square, London, and moved to Sagamore Hill on Long Island, New York after their honeymoon.

AS FIRST LADY

  • William McKinley was assassinated on September 6, 1901, so Theodore Roosevelt, who was vice president at the time, immediately assumed presidency. Edith became first lady.
  • Edith supervised the White House while the country was mourning.
  • She eliminated the office of the housekeeper to fit her large family.
  • Edith hired Isabelle Hagner as the first social secretary to serve the First Lady. This decision resulted in an institutional change.
  • Hagner was assigned and authorized to release photos of the first family.
  • Edith was great at entertaining visitors as she expanded events held at the White House. She also made sure that she held the greatest parties compared to those held by the Cabinet wives.
  • Edith and Teddy had a private meeting daily from 8 to 9 a.m. She was believed to have influenced her husband.
  • According to Hagner, the construction of the National Portrait Gallery was legally approved due to Edith’s influence.
  • Edith acted as an informal liaison between Teddy and Cecil Spring Rice, a British diplomat, to obtain information about the Russo-Japanese War.
  • This resulted in a treaty made by Teddy that ended the conflict. Due to this, Teddy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

DEATH

  • Edith died on September 30, 1948 at Sagamore Hill.
  • She was 87 years old.

Edith Roosevelt Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Edith Roosevelt across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Edith Roosevelt worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Edith Roosevelt who was Theodore Roosevelt’s second wife, and was the 26th First Lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909. She also served as Second Lady of the United States (although this was an informal title) when Theodore Roosevelt was vice president from March to September 1901.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Edith Roosevelt Facts
  • Her Story
  • Come to Connecticut
  • Romance and Rhythm
  • Timeline Completion
  • President Roosevelt
  • Lesson on Literature
  • Edith vs Eleanor
  • Personal White House
  • Job Hunting!
  • Edith’s Legacy

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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