62 Facts About Caroline Harrison

Caroline Lavinia Harrison was an American music teacher and the first lady of the United States from 1889 until her death.

Caroline Harrison was married to President Benjamin Harrison, and she was the second first lady to die while serving in that role.

The daughter of a college professor, Harrison was well-educated, and she expressed interest in art, music, and literature throughout her life.

Caroline Harrison married Benjamin Harrison in 1853 and taught music while he engaged in a legal and political career.

Caroline Harrison was heavily involved in the community, working at her church, participating in charity work, and managing local institutions such as an orphanage and a women's club.

Caroline Harrison was in favor of women's rights, and she co-founded the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as its first President General.

Caroline Harrison engaged in a major undertaking to renovate the White House, having much of its interior and utilities entirely redone.

Caroline Harrison took inventory of furnishings and other possessions kept in the White House, beginning the practice of White House historical preservation.

Caroline Harrison Lavinia Scott was born in Oxford, Ohio, on October 10,1832, to Mary Potts Neal, a teacher at a girls' school, and John Witherspoon Scott, a Presbyterian minister and professor at Miami University.

Caroline Harrison's parents were abolitionists, and were active in the Underground Railroad.

Caroline Harrison's great-grandfather was the founder of the first Presbyterian church in the United States, and of the College of New Jersey, which was later renamed Princeton University.

Caroline Harrison's father left Miami University following a dispute over his abolitionist beliefs, and the family moved to Cincinnati.

Caroline Harrison's parents were supporters of women's education, and they ensured that she was well educated.

Caroline Harrison's father took a job teaching science and mathematics at Farmer's College in Cincinnati.

When Caroline Harrison's father was appointed the first president of the Oxford Female Institute, the Scotts returned to Oxford, and Benjamin transferred to Miami University so he could be close to Caroline Harrison.

Caroline Harrison was severely overworked while in Kentucky, which negatively affected her health: as a result she and Benjamin wed sooner than originally planned.

Benjamin and Caroline Harrison were often contrasted with one another, as Benjamin's serious personality was distinct from Caroline Harrison's friendly demeanor.

Russell Benjamin Caroline Harrison was born on August 12,1854; Mary Scott Caroline Harrison was born on April 3,1858; and another daughter died at birth in 1861.

Caroline Harrison began china painting and playing the piano and the organ.

Caroline Harrison established an art studio from which she taught ceramics and other forms of art.

The Harrisons were active in the First Presbyterian Church; Caroline participated in the church choir, sewing society, and fundraisers, and she taught Sunday school.

Caroline Harrison was active in the community, joining the Indianapolis Orphans' Asylum board of managers in 1860 and holding the position until her death.

Caroline Harrison served as the president of the Indianapolis Woman's Club.

Caroline Harrison experienced periods of loneliness and depression as her husband began his political career, for he was often away and their marriage was neglected.

Caroline Harrison joined volunteer groups such as the Ladies Patriotic Association and the Ladies Sanitary Committee.

Caroline Harrison continued her education after the war, taking literature and art classes.

Caroline Harrison took a position on the board of lady managers of the Garfield Hospital.

Caroline Harrison faced several serious health problems in the 1880s: she took a severe fall on the ice, underwent surgery in 1883, and became seriously ill in 1886.

Caroline Harrison ran an unsuccessful campaign to be the Governor of Indiana in 1876, and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1880.

Caroline Harrison ran a front porch campaign as was common at the time, bringing thousands of people through their home.

Caroline Harrison became a public figure in her own right, and she was used in the campaign to contrast with the popular incumbent first lady Frances Cleveland.

Caroline Harrison's husband was elected president, and was sworn in on March 4,1889.

Caroline Harrison considered her domestic duties to be her primary responsibilities, expressing little interest in her role as White House hostess.

Caroline Harrison continued in her artistic pursuits while she was first lady, and she would mail ceramic milk sets to parents that named their children after the president.

Caroline Harrison continued her charitable work as first lady, giving her little time to organize grand receptions.

Caroline Harrison did implement some reforms for presidential receptions; Harrison abolished the practice of handshaking in receiving lines, and she restored dancing as a common practice.

Caroline Harrison caused one major political controversy in 1889 when she accepted a seaside cottage from John Wanamaker as a gift, leading to accusations of bribery.

Caroline Harrison supported women's rights movements while serving as first lady.

Caroline Harrison organized educational programs in the White House for the wives and daughters of cabinet members, including ceramics and French classes.

In 1890, Caroline Harrison was one of the founding members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a woman's organization that celebrated the contributions of women during the founding of the United States.

Caroline Harrison's involvement gave the organization legitimacy, and her first speech to the group was the first public speech to be written and delivered by a first lady.

When she became the first lady, Caroline Harrison inspected the White House in its entirety and found many problems that she wished to address.

Caroline Harrison consulted with Thomas Edison to bring electricity into the building, but he concluded that it could not safely incorporate electrical wiring in its current state.

Caroline Harrison took particular issue with the integration of the residential spaces and public offices, allowing visitors access to the family's quarters.

Caroline Harrison wished to entirely reconstruct the White House, even drawing plans with architect Frederick D Owen, but Congress was unwilling to fund the project.

Caroline Harrison oversaw the installation of electrical wiring over a period of four months, but the family and much of the staff were afraid to use the light switches.

Caroline Harrison authorized other utilities, including the installation of a heating system and modernized plumbing.

For decoration, Caroline Harrison introduced the use of orchids as the official floral decoration at state receptions, and she had the first White House Christmas tree put up.

Caroline Harrison took interest in the history of the White House, and she would offer personal tours.

Caroline Harrison ended the practice of selling off furnishing at the end of a presidential administration to preserve historic pieces from past administrations and mitigate a continual need of refurnishing.

Caroline Harrison especially took interest in china from previous administrations that had been stored in the attic, organizing it and creating what would become the White House china collection.

Caroline Harrison designed china of her own to be used as the official White House china of her husband's presidency.

Caroline Harrison had her husband order a total account of the furniture in the White House that documented the history of every item.

Caroline Harrison traveled to spend the summer of 1892 in the Adirondack Mountains, as the air was considered healthful for tuberculosis patients.

Caroline Harrison's condition was worsened by suspicions that her husband had begun a romantic relationship with her niece Mary Scott Dimmick.

Caroline Harrison died on October 25,1892, two weeks before her husband was defeated for reelection.

Caroline Harrison is described as an "underrated" first lady who was more active than most first ladies of her generation.

Caroline Harrison is ranked poorly by historians, typically being placed in the bottom quartile in historian polls.

Caroline Harrison was celebrated in her day as a model of domestic life for proficiently managing the White House.

Caroline Harrison's rejected proposal to remodel the White House would be adapted into a future renovation plan, resulting in the construction of the building's East Wing and West Wing.

Frances Cleveland, who managed the White House both before and after Caroline Harrison, expressed her approval of the renovations.

Caroline Harrison's work remains one of the most comprehensive projects to affect the White House.