# 1236 PB - 1963 5c Eleanor Roosevelt
Happy Birthday Eleanor RooseveltÂ
At an early age, Roosevelt chose to be addressed by her middle name. Even as a child, Roosevelt was mature and acted in an old-fashioned manner, leading her mother to nickname her “Granny.†Though born into a very wealthy family, Roosevelt lost both her parents when she was young and would suffer depression for the rest of her life.
Roosevelt had private tutoring until she was 15, at which point she went to the Allenswood Academy in England. Her feminist headmistress would have a lasting impact on her. By the time Roosevelt left the school in 1902, she could speak fluent French and was one of the most popular students there. She then returned to America for her debutante ball (a “coming of age†party for wealthy young women) and joined the New York Junior League, where she taught dance and calisthenics.
When Franklin was stricken with polio in 1921, Eleanor convinced him to remain in politics, while his mother wanted him to retire and become a country gentleman. Eleanor made public appearances on his behalf and used her contacts to further his career. At the same time, she joined the Women’s Trade Union League and helped raise funds for their goals, which included a 48-hour workweek, minimum wage, and abolishment of child labor.
One of the projects dearest to Eleanor was Arthurdale, a community in West Virginia. In 1933, she visited homeless miners in Morgantown, West Virginia. She proposed building a new community where they could make their living with subsistence farming, handicrafts, and a manufacturing plant. Eleanor saw the town as a model for “a new kind of community†where workers could live better. While the project was largely considered a failure, Eleanor believed it was a success, as the residents had become self-sufficient.
When World War II broke out, Eleanor encouraged her husband to allow European refugee children to immigrate to America. She hoped he would allow more immigration for those persecuted by the Nazis, but Franklin did the opposite. According to her son, Eleanor’s deepest regret was that she was not able to get Franklin to accept more refugees during the war.
Eleanor died on November 7, 1962. At her memorial service, Adlai Stevenson asked, “What other single human being has touched and transformed the existence of so many?â€
Click here to see Eleanor Roosevelt’s speech on Human Rights.
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Happy Birthday Eleanor RooseveltÂ
At an early age, Roosevelt chose to be addressed by her middle name. Even as a child, Roosevelt was mature and acted in an old-fashioned manner, leading her mother to nickname her “Granny.†Though born into a very wealthy family, Roosevelt lost both her parents when she was young and would suffer depression for the rest of her life.
Roosevelt had private tutoring until she was 15, at which point she went to the Allenswood Academy in England. Her feminist headmistress would have a lasting impact on her. By the time Roosevelt left the school in 1902, she could speak fluent French and was one of the most popular students there. She then returned to America for her debutante ball (a “coming of age†party for wealthy young women) and joined the New York Junior League, where she taught dance and calisthenics.
When Franklin was stricken with polio in 1921, Eleanor convinced him to remain in politics, while his mother wanted him to retire and become a country gentleman. Eleanor made public appearances on his behalf and used her contacts to further his career. At the same time, she joined the Women’s Trade Union League and helped raise funds for their goals, which included a 48-hour workweek, minimum wage, and abolishment of child labor.
One of the projects dearest to Eleanor was Arthurdale, a community in West Virginia. In 1933, she visited homeless miners in Morgantown, West Virginia. She proposed building a new community where they could make their living with subsistence farming, handicrafts, and a manufacturing plant. Eleanor saw the town as a model for “a new kind of community†where workers could live better. While the project was largely considered a failure, Eleanor believed it was a success, as the residents had become self-sufficient.
When World War II broke out, Eleanor encouraged her husband to allow European refugee children to immigrate to America. She hoped he would allow more immigration for those persecuted by the Nazis, but Franklin did the opposite. According to her son, Eleanor’s deepest regret was that she was not able to get Franklin to accept more refugees during the war.
Eleanor died on November 7, 1962. At her memorial service, Adlai Stevenson asked, “What other single human being has touched and transformed the existence of so many?â€
Click here to see Eleanor Roosevelt’s speech on Human Rights.
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