Corinne Roosevelt Robinson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Robinsonc. 1921 | |
| Born | Corinne Roosevelt (1861-09-27)September 27, 1861 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 1933(1933-02-17) (aged 71) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Burial place | Robinson Cemetery, Columbia Center, Herkimer County, New York, U.S.[1] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Theodore Roosevelt Sr. Martha Stewart Bulloch |
| Family | Roosevelt family |
Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (September 27, 1861 – February 17, 1933) was an American poet, writer and lecturer. She was also the younger sister ofPresident of the United StatesTheodore Roosevelt and an aunt ofFirst Lady of the United States,Eleanor Roosevelt.[2]
Corinne Roosevelt was born on September 27, 1861, at28 East 20th Street in New York City, the fourth and youngest child of businessman/philanthropistTheodore Roosevelt Sr. and socialiteMartha Stewart Bulloch.[2] Her siblings wereAnna,Theodore Jr. (who became president), andElliott (the father of futureFirst Lady of the United StatesAnna Eleanor Roosevelt). As anOyster Bay Roosevelt Corinne was a descendant of theSchuyler family.[3] She received most of her education from private tutors.[2]
Corinne was best friends withEdith Kermit Carow, her brother Theodore Roosevelt's second wife and later theFirst Lady of the United States. Theodore Sr. was a supporter of the North during theCivil War, while Mittie supported the South. Mittie's home state wasGeorgia, and she had moved toNew York only because of her marriage to Theodore. Mittie's brothers were members of theConfederate Navy. However, the conflict between Corinne's parents' political loyalties did not prevent her from experiencing a privileged childhood, including the best schools and regular travel, or the formal debut into society expected of the daughters of prominent families.
Robinson beganwriting at an early age, through the encouragement of her friends, in particularEdith Wharton who helped critique herpoetry. In 1911, Robinson published her first poem, "The Call of Brotherhood", inScribner's Magazine. Her first book of poems of the same title was published in 1912.[4] This volume was quickly followed byOne Woman to Another and Other Poems (1914) dedicated to her daughter, also namedCorinne, commemorating the loss of Robinson's brotherElliott and son, Stewart.[5]
Other volumes of poetry by Robinson includeService and Sacrifice (1919) dedicated to her brother Theodore Roosevelt,The Poems of Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (1924),[6] andOut of Nymph (1930) dedicated to Charles Scribner. She also wrote the prose memoirMy Brother Theodore Roosevelt (1924).[7][8]
Robinson was a member of the executive committee of theRepublican National Committee and theNew York State Republican Committee.[2][9] During theelection of 1920, Robinson became the first woman ever called upon to second the nomination of a national party convention candidate; speaking before a crowd of 14,000, she endorsed GeneralLeonard Wood as the 1920 Republican candidate for president.[7][10] After Wood lost the nomination toHarding, Robinson came out strongly for Harding and his vice-presidential candidate,Calvin Coolidge. In the1924 election, she served as a member of Coolidge's advisory committee.[2] Also in 1924, she wrote a letter toThe New York Times commenting on the election loss of her nephew,Theodore Roosevelt Jr., for Governor of New York.[11]
Despite being a prominent Republican, Corinne voted for her fifth cousin and nephew-in-lawFranklin when he ran forGovernor ofNew York in 1928, and in 1932 when he was electedPresident of the United States. During the 1932 election, she declined the designation of a Republican elector-at-large,[12] and wrote to Franklin saying that she had refused to take an active part in the campaign.[13] She also stated that:
You must understand why I cannot comment on the national campaign. My own beloved niece is the wife of the Democratic candidate. She is the daughter of the brother who was nearer to me in age than Theodore. For her I have the deepest affection and respect. So, much as I would like to pay the highest tribute to President Hoover, I cannot do so in this campaign.[2]
On April 29, 1882, she marriedDouglas Robinson Jr. (1855–1918), son ofDouglas Robinson Sr. and Frances (née Monroe) Robinson at theFifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.[14] Robinson's maternal grandfather,James Monroe (1799–1870), a member of theHouse of Representatives, was a nephew ofU.S. PresidentJames Monroe (1758–1831).[15] Their marriage produced four children:[16]
Throughout the 1920s, Robinson's health failed her a number of times and she had a total of sixteeneyesurgeries.[23]
Robinson died on February 17, 1933, age 71, ofpneumonia, in New York City,[24] less than a month beforeFranklin was inaugurated as president.[2] Her funeral was held atSt. Bartholomew's Protestant Episcopal Church and was attended by more than 1,000 people, including President-elect Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt,Sara Roosevelt,Anna Roosevelt, andCurtis B. Dall.[25] The bulk of her estate was divided among her three surviving children with smaller bequests made to grandchildren, nephews, friends and institutions. She left all real and personal property she had received from her uncle,Cornelius V. S. Roosevelt to her daughter, Corinne. The household furniture, residue of the property, including $30,000 left to her by another uncle, James King Gracie (1840–1903),[26] was to be shared equally among her children.[27] A portrait of Harriet Douglas (1790–1872), sister-in-law ofJames Monroe,[28] painted bySir William Beechey, was left to her grandson, Douglas Robinson (1906–1964), of whom Harriet was his great-great-great aunt.[27]
A memorial was held for her by theWomen's Roosevelt Memorial Association, of which she was a director, at Roosevelt House at 28 East 20th Street. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Dr.Henry Sloane Coffin.[29] The Association also planned a memorial fund in her honor to augment the Roosevelt endowment fund for the preservation of the Roosevelt House.[30] In 1942, two oriental plane trees were planted in front of the Roosevelt House and dedicated to the memory of Anna Roosevelt Cowles and Corinne.[31]
Robinson, who was born at the Roosevelt House at28 East 20th Street in New York City, had her own home in New York City at147 East 61st Street, as well as a country home calledGelston Castle in Mohawk nearJordanville, New York where she cultivated her interest in flowers.[2]
In 1925, she leased her former home, 422 and 424 Madison Avenue, a five-story building adjoining the southwest corner of49th Street, to Bernard A. Ottenberg and Roy Foster for a period of 80 years with annual rent of about $25,000 a year for the first 20 years. At the time, the entire building was occupied by the Braus Art Galleries.[32] After the expiration of the Braus lease, the new lessees planned to construct a nine-story store and loft building with foundations for twelve to fifteen stories.[32]
She was a member of theColony Club,Cosmopolitan Club,Women's National Republican Club, Town Hall Club,MacDowell Club and Essex Country Club.[2]
Robinson was the grandmother of columnistsJoseph Wright Alsop V (1910–1989) andStewart Johonnot Oliver Alsop (1914–1974).[33]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
