The Three Graces of Val-Kill

by Emily Herring Wilson

  Halsted, James, 174

  Hammer, Victor, 54, 195n6

  Hammer family, 174, 195n6

  Harding, Warren G., 29

  Harriman, Mrs. J. Borden, 29

  Health care, 78, 80

  Hickok, Lorena: ER’s friendship with, 125, 128, 129, 131–32, 136, 148, 149, 151, 199n2; and Arthurdale, 136–37, 139; ER’s correspondence with, 155, 199n2; and ER’s death, 175

  Hoover, Herbert, 130

  Hopkins, Harry, 128, 131

  House Committee on Un-American Activities, 134

  Howe, Louis, 2, 15, 19, 57, 59, 100, 112, 126–28, 134, 138–39, 154

  Hudson River School, 5–6, 12

  Hudson River Valley: and Roosevelt family, 1, 4, 6–7, 10, 11–12; ER’s roots in, 4, 10–11, 48; setting of, 4–6

  Hyde Park, New York: history of, 4–6; FDR returning during presidency, 141, 200n1. See also Springwood, Hyde Park; Val-Kill estate, Hyde Park

  Ickes, Harold, 138

  Ireland, Nancy Roosevelt, 197n2

  Israel, 84

  James Roosevelt Memorial Library, Hyde Park, 46, 117

  Jefferson, Thomas, 36, 116–17

  Jewett, Sarah Orne, 40

  Jews: ER as public advocate for, 67, 83–84, 137; at Todhunter School, 120

  Johannesen, Nelly, 116, 133, 145

  Johnson, Lyndon, 175

  Junior League, 20

  Justice, ER as public advocate for, 67, 163

  Kennedy, Jacqueline, 175

  Kennedy, John F., 175, 177

  Kennedy family, 147

  Key West, FDR’s houseboat in, 83, 121

  Kipling, Rudyard, 147

  Knickerbocker society, 6

  Labor movement: women’s involvement in, 17; MD’s involvement in, 25, 31, 81, 158, 164; ER’s involvement in, 31, 62, 67, 81–82, 108–9; NC’s involvement in, 81

  Landolfa, Frank Salvatore, 61, 114, 115

  Lape, Esther: and New York City League of Women Voters, 17; on ER’s relationship with FDR, 18; ER’s friendship with, 19, 25, 31–32, 78–81, 86, 132, 152–53, 172, 174, 197n12; and ER’s political work, 21; as life partner of Elizabeth Read, 31–32, 78–79; with ER in Washington, D.C., for congressional hearing for Bok Peace Prize, 79–80, 95; ER renting apartment from, 141, 152; and Tommy Thompson, 150

  Lash, Joseph, 81–82, 84, 134–35, 148, 164, 170, 174, 197n18

  Lash, Trude Pratt, 84, 134, 135, 170, 174

  League of Women Voters, 17, 28, 73, 78

  LeHand, Marguerite “Missy,” 31, 49–50, 59, 66, 94, 122, 128, 134

  Levenson, Peggy, 89

  Liberty Loan drive, 23

  Livingston, Robert, 111

  Longworth, Alice Roosevelt, 9–10, 66

  McEachern, Elspeth, 8

  Marine Museum, Mystic, Connecticut, 168, 169

  Martha (princess of Norway), 143

  Mercer, Lucy, 9–10, 18–19, 39, 64, 166

  Metropolitan Museum of Art, 114, 118

  Miller, Earl, 63–64, 84–86, 94, 127, 141, 149, 197n18

  Mills, Harriet May, 27, 29

  Monticello, 36, 116

  Mont St. Michel, 45, 110

  Morgenthau, Elinor, 28–29, 74–75, 82–84, 112, 117

  Morgenthau, Henry, Jr., 82–84, 117, 166

  Morgenthau, Henry, Sr., 82

  National History Museum, Buffalo, 117

  National Park Service, 177, 178, 193n1

  National Register of Historic Places, 139

  Nesbitt, Henrietta, 13, 75, 128

  New Canaan, Connecticut, 168–70, 171, 172

  New Deal: ER’s interest in, 3, 138, 163; and Mary Dewson, 76, 197n9; cultural outreach of, 118; Val-Kill Industries as precursor to, 119; Harry Hopkins as director of relief programs, 128. See also Arthurdale, West Virginia

  New Women, and progressivism, 20

  New York City: James Roosevelt’s townhouse in, 7; ER and FDR’s marriage in, 8; Sara Delano Roosevelt’s townhouse in, 9, 31–32; ER and FDR’s townhouse in, 9, 31–32, 82, 117, 122, 145; ER’s early life in, 20; and ER’s Greenwich Village apartment, 141, 152; ER’s brownstone with the Gurewitsches, 170, 173, 174

  New York City Democratic Women, NC, ER, MD, and Caroline O’Day in office of, 94

  New York Democratic politics, ER’s involvement with women in, 2, 15–17, 18, 21, 22, 28

  New York Democratic Women, ER as keynote speaker for fund-raiser of, 15–16, 17, 19–20, 25, 73, 125

  New York State, ER’s work for Democratic Party in, 21

  New York State Democratic Committee, Women’s Division: NC working for, 25, 27, 57–58, 121, 138, 145, 150, 154, 162; Caroline O’Day working for, 28, 29; ER working for, 28, 29–30, 57, 72, 154, 162; and Women’s Democratic News, 112; Val-Kill Industries furniture in office of, 117–18

  New York Women’s Trade Union League, 81–82

  Nineteenth Amendment, 23

  Oak Terrace, Tivoli, 10–11

  O’Day, Caroline, 28–30, 46, 62, 77, 83, 94, 112–13, 117, 158

  O’Day, Daniel T., 158

  O’Day, Ella, 29

  Olaf (crown prince of Norway), 143

  Osthagen, Henry, 134

  Pacifism: and MD, 23; and NC, 23; ER as public advocate for, 67, 78, 79–80, 113, 149; Esther Lape’s activism for, 78, 79–80; Caroline O’Day’s activism for, 113

  Patterson, Cissy, 73

  Pearl Harbor attacks, 163–64

  Perkel, Edna, 170

  Perkins, Frances, 30, 77, 82, 121, 143, 157–61

  Perkins, Susanna, 158

  Pickett, Clarence, 138

  Plog, William, 70, 167

  Pons, Lily, 128

  Porter, Polly, 40, 76–77, 174

  Post, Emily, 54

  Poughkeepsie, New York, 6, 13, 14, 46, 51

  Quinn, Susan, 199n2

  Raz-Russo, Michal, 55

  Read, Elizabeth: ER’s friendship with, 17, 19, 25, 31–32, 78–81, 86, 132, 152–53, 197n12; as ER’s attorney, 17, 79; as life partner of Esther Lape, 31–32, 78–79; death of, 81; ER renting apartment from, 141, 152; and Tommy Thompson, 150

  Red Cross, 17, 23

  Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C., 176–77, 201n4

  Roosevelt, Anna. See Halsted, Anna Roosevelt Dall Boettiger (ER’s daughter)

  Roosevelt, Anne Clark, 42, 106, 111

  Roosevelt, Danny, 155–56

  Roosevelt, David B., 197n2

  Roosevelt, Eleanor: children’s relationship with, 1, 2, 8, 9, 13, 19, 21, 37, 39–41, 105–9, 135, 147, 163, 165–67, 168; relationship with Anna Roosevelt Halsted, 1, 18, 106, 166, 174; relationship with Sara Delano Roosevelt, 2, 7–8, 9, 10, 15, 19, 20, 21–22, 38, 52, 56–57, 65–66, 105, 109, 110, 141, 151, 165; marriage to FDR, 2, 7–10, 18–19, 30, 31, 39, 57, 58, 59–60, 65, 69, 72, 85, 141, 152, 157, 163–64; and progressive network of women, 2, 17, 72, 73; independence of, 2, 19, 60, 65, 66–67, 86, 125, 129, 146; on friendship, 2, 25, 43, 72–73; as First Lady, 2, 103–4, 117, 125, 126, 127, 131–34, 136–40, 141, 142, 146–47, 163; privacy of, 3; Hudson River Valley linked to, 4, 10–11; early relationship with FDR, 7, 42; Lucy Mercer as social secretary of, 9, 18; and FDR’s infidelity, 9–10, 18–19, 57, 64; travel of, 10, 15, 21, 28–29, 38, 43, 44, 45, 56, 67, 109–10, 111, 126, 129, 132, 136, 138, 139, 142, 150, 152, 164, 170, 171; on Oak Terrace, 10–11; sense of duty, 11, 17, 68, 104, 106; grandchildren of, 11, 42, 106, 111, 123, 147, 167, 193–94n1; and building of Val-Kill Stone Cottage, 12, 33, 35, 36, 193n1; religious life of, 13–14, 68–69, 196n1; education of, 14, 20, 31; friends among faculty women at Vassar College, 14, 72–73, 83; and Louis Howe’s advice on public speaking, 15; on women’s suffrage, 16, 17; political knack of, 16–17; dark moods of, 16, 19, 57, 152; as chair of legislative committee of New York City League of Women Voters, 17; as Red Cross volunteer during World War I, 17; ambition of, 20, 28, 121–22, 154; FDR’s correspondence with, 21, 39, 54, 59–60, 61, 66, 123; autobiographies of, 25, 48, 118; political organizing and activism of, 28–30, 31, 48, 67, 104, 126, 129, 132, 154;
arrest at protest strike, 31; and FDR’s political career, 31, 32; and birthday celebrations, 56; and New York governor’s mansion, 58, 73, 75, 85, 130, 157; as occasional smoker, 62; as introvert, 68; “My Day” column of, 71, 117, 128, 129–30, 132, 136, 141, 170; personal charisma of, 73; friends among faculty women at Cornell University, 73–76; with Esther Lape in Washington, D.C., for congressional hearing for Bok Peace Prize, 79–80, 95; wardrobe of, 80–81, 143; early anti-Semitism of, 83, 84; with NC and MD, ready for camping, 88; with NC, MD, and Peggy Levenson during camping trip, 89; with NC and MD en route to Campobello, 89; with NC and MD at Campobello, 90; on deck of Regina with MD and sons John and Franklin Jr., 91; with Anna Roosevelt in Val-Kill snow, 93; in New York City Democratic Women office with NC, MD, and Caroline O’Day, 94; at Val-Kill swimming pool with FDR, Missy LeHand, and Earl Miller, 94; with NC at Nan’s drawing board at Val-Kill Industries, 96; with NC at National Recovery Administration poster at Val-Kill Industries, 96; as teacher at Todhunter School, 97, 104, 120, 121, 122–24; with grandchild Ellie on their way to Todhunter School, 98, 123; with Cuff Links Gang celebration FDR’s birthday, 100; square dancing at Arthurdale, 100, 139, 140; with NC and FDR’s advisers at Val-Kill picnic, 101; visiting NC at St. Joseph’s Manor, 102, 172, 173; “Ethics of Parents” essay, 103, 197n1; It’s Up to the Women, 103–4, 105, 197n1; earned income of, 104–5, 118, 132, 163; and European tour with younger boys, 109, 110–11; self-confidence of, 125–26; public scrutiny of, 126, 130, 138–39, 151; official correspondence as First Lady, 132, 141, 163, 164; United Nations work of, 171; health of, 172–73, 174; death of, 173, 174–75, 178. See also Val-Kill Stone Cottage, Hyde Park; White House; and specific friends

  Roosevelt, Elliott (ER’s father), 103, 165

  Roosevelt, Elliott (ER’s son), 50, 55, 67, 105–6, 166–67, 170, 174, 178

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano: relationship with sons, 1, 33, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, 108, 109; Val-Kill cottage suggested by, 1–2, 35, 47; presidential ambitions of, 2, 3, 4, 8; on “Three Graces,” 2–3, 54–55, 64; marriage to ER, 2, 7–10, 18–19, 30, 31, 39, 57, 58, 59–60, 65, 69, 72, 85, 141, 152, 157, 163–64; polio’s effects on, 2, 10, 12, 19, 28, 30, 33, 34, 38, 39, 47, 53, 59, 66, 129; privacy of, 7; birth of, 7, 39; early relationship with ER, 7, 42; relationship with mother, 7–9, 10, 30, 35, 38, 47, 56–57, 105, 165; as assistant secretary of the navy, 9, 17; relationship with Lucy Mercer, 9–10, 18–19, 39, 64, 166; driving with hand controls, 12, 47; and St. James Episcopal Church, 13; political campaign of 1920 for vice president, 15, 126; on women’s suffrage, 16; on ER’s political knack, 16–17; despondency of, 19; ER’s correspondence with, 21, 39, 54, 59–60, 61, 66, 123; meeting MD and NC at Springwood, 21–22, 25; and Al Smith, 25, 30, 31; MD’s friendship with, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33–35, 47, 48–50, 54, 61, 104, 109–10, 126, 129, 132–33, 146, 155, 158, 160, 168; and New York Democratic women’s political efforts, 28; “Happy Warrior” speech of, 30; Caroline O’Day’s relationship with, 30; NC’s friendship with, 30, 31, 32, 33–34, 35, 48–49, 52, 104, 126, 129, 132–33, 146, 168; as New York governor, 30, 58, 63, 72, 73, 76, 104, 109, 110, 122, 126; New York governor campaign, 31, 58; moving with arms, 34, 53; Top Cottage of, 46, 66, 143, 166; naval print collection of, 63; as president of U.S., 72, 77, 103, 115, 116, 123, 125, 126, 127–29, 132–35, 136, 141–42, 163–64, 166, 200n1; at Val-Kill swimming pool with ER, Missy LeHand, and Earl Miller, 94; Cuff Links Gang celebrating birthday of, 100, 126, 165; on parenting, 106; on Val-Kill Industries, 119; on settlement houses, 137; death of, 166, 170; funeral preparations for burial of, 167

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, Jr. (ER’s infant son), 14, 19, 68–69

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, Jr. “Brud” (ER’s son): at Val-Kill, 33, 34, 35, 48, 49, 53; and Campobello vacations, 36–37, 39–42, 46, 76, 82, 91; relationship with MD and NC, 37, 107–8, 110; education of, 55; on deck of Regina with MD, ER, and John Roosevelt, 91; marriage and divorce of, 105; European tour of, 109, 110–11; and World War II, 170

  Roosevelt, Hall (ER’s brother), 10, 39, 141, 155–56, 165

  Roosevelt, Haven, 111

  Roosevelt, Henry, 39–42, 46, 91

  Roosevelt, James (FDR’s father), 1, 6–7, 13–14, 36

  Roosevelt, James “Jimmy” (ER’s son), 30, 50, 55, 105–6, 170, 174

  Roosevelt, James “Rosy” (FDR’s step-brother), 6–7

  Roosevelt, John (ER’s son): birth of, 17; at Val-Kill, 33, 34, 35, 48, 49, 53; and Campobello vacations, 36–37, 39–42, 46, 76, 82, 91; relationship with MD and NC, 37, 107–8, 110; education of, 55; on deck of Regina with MD, ER, and Franklin Jr., 91; marriage and divorce of, 105; children of, 106, 111; European tour of, 109, 110–11; living at Val-Kill Stone Cottage, 167; and World War II, 170

  Roosevelt, Rebecca, 6–7, 14

  Roosevelt, Sara Delano: as mistress of Springwood, 1, 5, 7, 8–9, 47, 58, 62, 65–66, 71, 82, 83, 141, 143, 165; ER’s relationship with, 2, 7–8, 9, 10, 15, 19, 20, 21–22, 38, 52, 56–57, 65–66, 105, 109, 110, 141, 151, 165; Hyde Park library founded by, 5; and social class, 5, 22, 63, 67, 82; marriage of, 7; FDR’s relationship with, 7–9, 10, 30, 35, 38, 47, 56–57, 105, 165; relationship with grandchildren, 8, 9, 82, 105, 106, 108; New York City townhouse of, 9, 31–32; on ER’s and FDR’s marriage, 10, 57, 141; and St. James Episcopal Church, 13, 14; and Val-Kill Stone Cottage, 53, 65–66; MD’s relationship with, 109; order for Val-Kill Industries furniture, 117; royal family members of England as guests of, 143; death of, 165

  Roosevelt, Theodore, 8, 9, 11, 16, 127

  Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr., 29

  Roosevelt family: and Hudson River Valley, 1, 4, 6–7, 10, 11–12; and St. James Episcopal Church, 12–14; MD’s and NC’s role in, 21, 37, 67, 104, 106–10, 126, 132–34, 147, 167, 168; Hyde Park branch of, 29; Oyster Bay branch of, 29, 31; and Joseph Lash, 134–35

  Roosevelt International Bridge, 38

  Rose, Flora, 73–76

  Rosenberg, Anna, 159–61

  Rumsey, Mary Harriman, 158

  Rutherfurd, Lucy Mercer, 9–10, 18–19, 39, 64, 166

  Rutherfurd, Winthrop, 19, 166

  Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 177

  St. James Episcopal Church, Hyde Park, 12–14, 68–69, 175, 196n1

  Scheider, Frank, 134

  Schneiderman, Rose, 62, 81–82, 108–9

  Schwartz, Morris, 114

  Scott’s Run, West Virginia, 136–37

  Seagraves, Eleanor Roosevelt “Ellie” “Sistie” (ER’s grandchild), 42, 98, 106, 123, 147, 175

  Secret Service, 129

  Seeley, Fred, 116

  Selassie, Haile, 177

  Settlement houses: ER’s volunteer work in, 20, 137; Elinor Morgenthau’s work in, 83

  Seward, William H., 22

  Shoumatoff, Elizabeth, 166

  Singing Teapot, 29–30

  Skinner, Cornelia Otis, 128

  Smith, Al, 25, 29–31, 58

  Smith, Catherine Anne Dunn, 58

  Smith, Emily, 29

  Smith, Moses, 34, 71, 166

  Smith College, 79

  Social class: Sara Delano Roosevelt’s attitude toward, 5, 22, 63, 67, 82; ER’s attitude toward, 67, 81–82, 107, 125, 140; and MD and NC, 76–77

  Souvestre, Marie, 14, 20, 80, 85–86, 123

  Springwood, Hyde Park: Sara Delano Roosevelt as mistress of, 1, 5, 7, 8–9, 47, 58, 62, 65–66, 71, 82, 83, 141, 143, 165; MD as guest of ER at, 1–2, 21–22, 32, 33–35, 142; NC as guest of ER at, 1–2, 21–22, 32, 33–35, 142; rose garden of, 6, 71, 167, 175; ER and FDR’s honeymoon at, 8, 9; additions to, 8–9; ER and FDR’s family life at, 9, 10; ER’s separate bedroom at, 10; modification for FDR’s wheelchair, 10; Val-Kill Stone Cottage compared to, 12, 61, 68, 196n2; photograph in snow, 1920s, 93; FDR working as president from, 141, 160, 164, 200n1; royal guests from Europe visiting, 143; ER turning over to U.S., 167

  Stevenson, Adlai, 175, 177

  Stone Cottage. See Val-Kill Stone Cottage, Hyde Park

  Street, Jacob Richard, 26

 
Suckley, Margaret “Daisy,” 66, 166

  Suffrage movement: women’s involvement in, 17; MD’s involvement in, 23, 27; NC’s involvement in, 23, 27

  Swartz, Maud, 62, 81–82, 108

  Sweet, Thaddeus, 24–25

  Syracuse University, 23, 24, 26

  Teapot Dome oil scandals, 29

  Thompson, Malvina “Tommy”: and ER’s visits to Esther Lape and Elizabeth Read, 78, 80; in White House, 130, 152; and travel with ER, 132, 141, 150; and ER’s role in presidential picnics, 133–34; apartment at Val-Kill Shop Cottage, 142; relationship with MD and NC, 146, 150, 163; on MD’s travel with presidential commission, 148; and ER’s correspondence, 162–63, 171, 172, 177

  Time magazine, 146

  Todhunter, Winifred, 120–21

  Todhunter School: MD as teacher and director at, 25, 62, 105, 120–23, 124, 130, 132, 138, 159, 164; ER as teacher at, 97, 104, 120, 121, 122–24; students at Val-Kill pond, 99; ER’s, MD’s, and NC’s partnership in, 120, 121–22, 146, 154, 163; ER’s tours of White House for faculty and students, 123, 132, 165; faculty and students invited to FDR’s inauguration, 130; ER’s withdrawal from, 146, 153–54, 163

  Toombs, Henry, 46, 48–49, 59

  Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (1911), 81–82

  Truman, Bess, 175

  Truman, Harry, 171, 175

  Tully, Grace, 166

  United Nations: Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Bench (1966), 102, 176–77; ER’s work with, 171

  U.S. Marine Band, 128

  Val-Kill estate, Hyde Park: and FDR’s purchase of Bennett Farm, 11–12, 47; and Moses Smith, 34, 71, 166

  Val-Kill Industries: furniture made at, 77, 95, 113, 114–18, 132; ER and NC at Nan’s drawing board at, 96; NC and ER with National Recovery Administration poster at, 96; NC finishing furniture at, 97; NC as manager of, 104, 105, 113, 114–19, 121, 137, 138, 139, 140, 145, 146, 150, 157–58, 163, 198n4; NC, MD, and ER founding of, 104, 119, 145–46, 154; and Caroline O’Day, 113; local jobs created by, 113, 115, 119, 140; ER assuming construction costs, 114; and ER’s disagreement with NC, 115; ER’s decision to close shop, 115, 119, 145; and forge, 116; and weaving enterprise, 116, 145; and Arthurdale, 137, 139; ER receiving credit for business, 145; ER’s decision to withdraw from, 145–46; ER dissolving partnership in, 162–63