Basic Information
Name: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
Nickname: Ellie, Little Nell, First Lady of the World, Defender of Human Rights
Born: October 11th, 1884
Died: November 7th, 1962
Nationality: U.S.A.
Hometown: New York, New York
WORK & EDUCATION
Occupation: Diplomat, U.S. First Lady
Education: Allenswood Academy
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Parents: Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt, Anna Rebecca Hall
Siblings: Elliott Jr. and Gracie Hall
Spouse: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Children: Anna Eleanor, James II, Franklin (died in infancy), Elliott, Franklin Delano Jr., John Aspinwall
Friends: Charities, the Red Cross, World War I Veterans, World War II Veterans, the lower class, the disenfranchised, those in the African-American civil rights movement, those without rights, activists
Foes: Old-fashioned First Ladies, anyone who said a woman only belongs beside her husband
Analysis
More Than a First Lady
The "First Lady of the World" is what Eleanor's husband President Roosevelt called her. In terms of human rights activism, Eleanor wins the award for most influential American woman in…maybe ever. Or at least the past 100 years.
She refused to be simply "President Roosevelt's wife," and strove to use her position to better the world. Pretty impressive given the strict gender roles and expectations of the 1930s. She wasn't even a fan of gossip—check out a quote that has been attributed both to E. Roosevelt and Socrates:
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
Yeah. We think its fair to say that if people aren't sure whether you said it or Socrates said it, you were probably a fairly kick-butt intellectual. So let's take Eleanor Roosevelt's advice and get our idea-discussing on.
Fighting for Rights
Ever heard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? We'd say that counts as an idea.
Eleanor Roosevelt was chairwoman of the committee that wrote this powerful document, which came directly from the atrocities committed during World War II.
The Declaration is considered an official mandate by the United Nations today, and it includes thirty articles describing various rights all humans are entitled to. While we don't have a fully functioning "world government" today, such a document is a powerful step towards creating a more peaceful world society. That Eleanor was a woman with a vision.
The Sad Early Years
Growing up, Eleanor had a rough stretch. Although she was part of a wealthy family, her parents died within two years of each other, and one of her brothers died from diphtheria while her other brother suffered from alcoholism. Not the most uplifting childhood.
Women didn't have a whole lot of career opportunities in the early 20th century, so at age twenty-one she married Franklin Roosevelt and began a life in the public eye, as her husband was heavily involved in politics. Things didn't go so well with her family life, as Frank had contemplated leaving Eleanor for another woman, and Eleanor had a very difficult relationship with her mother-in law (FDR's mom). Eleanor devoted her life to social work and activism, as her marriage became more of a political partnership than a love life.
Less Love, More Activism
As an activist, Eleanor was all over the place. And we mean that in the most positive way possible—she was all over the place in the same way that Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, or (yeah, we're going there) James Franco is all over the place.
She was a Renaissance woman: she spoke out for children, women, those in poverty, those facing racial discrimination, and war veterans. After FDR's death, Eleanor continued her quest by getting involved with the United Nations General Assembly, and eventually the Human Rights Commission.
Eleanor's legacy lies in her outspoken activism as First Lady, forever changing the expectation of the role of that position (example: Michelle Obama); and her tireless work promoting the fair and equal treatment of all humans through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.