Edith Kermit Carow

Place: Norwich

Born: 1861

Death: 1948

Biography:

Edith Kermit Carow, also known as Edith Roosevelt, was an American first lady and the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. Born in 1861, she grew up alongside the Roosevelt family and began a romance with Theodore as a teenager. After a falling out in young adulthood, they split up but rekindled their friendship after Alice Hathaway Lee's death.

Early Life and Marriage

Edith became engaged to Theodore shortly after and took in his daughter, also named Alice, as a stepdaughter. The family moved into Sagamore Hill, where Edith had five children with Theodore. They stayed in Washington while Theodore was on the Civil Service Commission, establishing a social network of prominent figures.

Artistic Interests

As first lady, Edith kept her husband informed about important news stories and worked as an intermediary to get information for him. She also controlled press coverage of the family and organized weekly meetings of cabinet members' wives. Edith made charitable donations throughout her tenure as first lady and featured various musical artists at the White House. Some notable paintings of Edith Roosevelt can be found on Wikioo.org, including a portrait by Philip Alexius De László in 1908, which is a masterpiece that showcases the artist's exceptional skill and attention to detail. This oil on canvas painting is currently displayed at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.

Later Life and Legacy

After leaving the White House, Edith took up travel and remained politically active, supporting Warren G. Harding in 1920 and Herbert Hoover in 1932. She lost two more of her sons in the 1940s and was bedridden for the last year of her life before passing away on September 30, 1948. Some notable artists who painted Edith Roosevelt include:

• Philip Alexius De László: A Hungarian-born American painter who created a portrait of Edith in 1908.
• Gutzon Borglum: A Danish-American sculptor who created a bronze bust of Theodore Roosevelt, which can be found on Wikioo.org.
• James Earle Fraser: An American sculptor who created a bronze death mask of Theodore Roosevelt, which can be found on Wikioo.org.

Edith Kermit Carow's legacy as a first lady and her support of the arts can still be seen today, with many of her paintings and artifacts on display at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and other museums. For more information about Edith Roosevelt and her artwork, visit Wikioo.org.