Eleanor Roosevelt Timeline

(October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962)

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist who served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She transformed the role of First Lady through her advocacy for civil rights, women's rights, and social justice, and later became a delegate to the United Nations, where she chaired the drafting committee for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. More Less

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Early Life and Family

Born in New York City

Oct 11, 1884

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City to Elliott Roosevelt, brother of President Theodore Roosevelt, and Anna Rebecca Hall. Born into a wealthy and prominent family, her early life was marked by both privilege and personal tragedy.

Image source: Eleanor Roosevelt

Death of her parents

1892 - 1894

Eleanor endured profound loss in childhood: her mother died of diphtheria in 1892 and her father died two years later. Orphaned by age ten, she was raised largely by her grandmother Mary Livingston Ludlow Hall.

Attends Allenswood Boarding Academy in London

1899 - 1902

Eleanor was sent to Allenswood Boarding Academy near London, where she studied under the progressive French headmistress Marie Souvestre. The experience broadened her intellect, instilled confidence, and shaped her lifelong commitment to education and social reform.

Image source: Allenswood Boarding Academy

Marries Franklin D. Roosevelt

Mar 17, 1905

Eleanor married her distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt in New York City, with President Theodore Roosevelt giving away the bride. Their marriage would become one of the most consequential political partnerships in American history.

Image source: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Birth of first child Anna

May 3, 1906

Eleanor gave birth to the first of her six children, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Jr. She would raise five children who survived infancy while increasingly engaging in public life alongside her husband's political career.

Image source: Anna Roosevelt Halsted

Discovers Franklin's affair with Lucy Mercer

1918

Eleanor discovered love letters revealing Franklin's affair with her social secretary Lucy Mercer. Though they remained married, the crisis transformed their relationship into a political partnership and pushed Eleanor toward greater independence and public engagement.

Image source: Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd

Works with League of Women Voters and women's movement

1920 - 1928

After women gained suffrage, Eleanor became active in the League of Women Voters, the Women's Trade Union League, and Democratic Party politics, establishing herself as a formidable advocate for women's rights and labor reform.

Image source: League of Women Voters

Franklin paralyzed by polio diagnosis

Aug 1921

Franklin was diagnosed with polio, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Eleanor played a crucial role in keeping his political career alive, encouraging him to remain active in public life during his recovery.

Image source: Paralytic illness of Franklin D. Roosevelt

First Lady of the United States

Becomes First Lady of the United States

Mar 4, 1933

Eleanor became First Lady when Franklin was inaugurated as the 32nd president amid the Great Depression. She redefined the role, holding press conferences, traveling extensively, and becoming an influential voice within the administration.

Image source: First Lady of the United States

Holds first all-women press conference

Mar 6, 1933

Two days after the inauguration, Eleanor held her first press conference, admitting only female reporters — a groundbreaking move that forced newspapers to hire women journalists and gave her a direct channel to the American public.

Publishes 'My Day' newspaper column

Dec 30, 1935 - Sep 26, 1962

Eleanor began writing her widely syndicated daily column 'My Day,' which she continued for over a quarter century. Through it she shared her views on politics, civil rights, and everyday life with millions of readers.

Image source: My Day

Publishes memoir 'This Is My Story'

1937

Eleanor published her autobiography 'This Is My Story,' which became a bestseller. She later wrote several more volumes, including 'This I Remember' (1949) and 'On My Own' (1958), chronicling her remarkable life.

Champions Marian Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert

Feb 1939 - Apr 9, 1939

After the Daughters of the American Revolution denied famed Black contralto Marian Anderson use of Constitution Hall, Eleanor publicly resigned from the organization. Anderson instead performed at the Lincoln Memorial before 75,000 people, a landmark moment for civil rights.

Image source: Marian Anderson

Resigns from DAR over Marian Anderson ban

Feb 26, 1939

In protest of the Daughters of the American Revolution's refusal to allow Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall because of her race, Eleanor publicly resigned her membership, drawing national attention to racial discrimination.

Image source: Daughters of the American Revolution

Advocates for Japanese American internment victims

1942 - 1945

While the U.S. government forcibly relocated Japanese Americans to internment camps during World War II, Eleanor privately opposed the policy and visited the Gila River camp in 1943, urging more humane treatment of those detained.

Image source: Internment of Japanese Americans

Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office

Apr 12, 1945

President Franklin Roosevelt died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage at Warm Springs, Georgia. Eleanor ended her tenure as First Lady after twelve years but soon embarked on an even more prominent international career.

Image source: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Human Rights and Diplomacy

Co-founds Freedom House

Oct 1941

Eleanor helped found Freedom House, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting democracy, political freedom, and human rights around the world, serving on its board of trustees for many years.

Image source: Freedom House

Serves as UN delegate and drafts Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Dec 1945 - Dec 10, 1948

Appointed by President Truman as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, Eleanor chaired the commission that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948. It remains one of the most translated documents in history.

Image source: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Serves as first U.S. Representative to UN Commission on Human Rights

Jan 1947 - 1953

Eleanor served as the first chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights, guiding its early work and cementing her reputation as the 'First Lady of the World' through her tireless diplomacy.

Image source: United Nations Commission on Human Rights

Delivers 'The Struggle for Human Rights' speech in Paris

Sep 28, 1948

At the Sorbonne in Paris, Eleanor delivered her celebrated speech 'The Struggle for Human Rights,' defending the Universal Declaration against Soviet criticism and calling human rights a universal concern transcending national borders.

Image source: Candle demonstration in Bratislava

Publishes 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights' adopted by UN

Dec 10, 1948

The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Eleanor had championed as its principal drafter. Her leadership earned widespread acclaim and established a global standard for fundamental freedoms.

Later Years and Legacy

Hosts radio program and television appearances

1950 - 1962

In her post-White House years, Eleanor embraced broadcasting, hosting radio shows such as 'The Eleanor Roosevelt Program' and making numerous television appearances, extending her influence as a public commentator and interviewer.

Publishes 'On My Own' autobiography

1958

Eleanor published 'On My Own,' the third volume of her autobiography, reflecting on her life after Franklin's death, her UN work, and her continuing advocacy for justice and equality.

Diagnosed with aplastic anemia

1960

Eleanor was diagnosed with aplastic anemia following a car accident in 1960, yet she continued her demanding schedule of writing, speaking, and advocacy despite declining health.

Supports formation of the Peace Corps

Mar 1, 1961

Eleanor publicly supported President John F. Kennedy's establishment of the Peace Corps, which embodied her lifelong belief in service, global cooperation, and citizen diplomacy.

Image source: Peace Corps

Appointed chair of Kennedy's Commission on the Status of Women

Dec 14, 1961

President Kennedy appointed Eleanor to chair the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, which examined issues facing women in employment, education, and law, laying groundwork for future gender equality legislation.

Image source: Presidential Commission on the Status of Women

Dies in New York City

Nov 7, 1962

Eleanor Roosevelt died at her Manhattan home at age 78. Adlai Stevenson famously eulogized her as someone who 'would rather light candles than curse the darkness,' honoring her lifetime of humanitarian work.

Publishes final book 'Tomorrow Is Now'

1963

Completed shortly before her death and published posthumously, 'Tomorrow Is Now' urged Americans to embrace change and responsibility in shaping a better future, summarizing her philosophy of engaged citizenship.

Image source: And Now Tomorrow

Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

May 5, 1963

President John F. Kennedy posthumously awarded Eleanor the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to human rights and public service.

Image source: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Inducted posthumously into the Women's Hall of Fame

1965

Eleanor was among the first honorees inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, recognizing her enduring contributions to women's rights and American public life.

Image source: National Women's Hall of Fame

Inducted posthumously into the Women's Hall of Fame

Val-Kill home designated a National Historic Site

May 27, 1977

Val-Kill, Eleanor's beloved cottage in Hyde Park, New York, where she lived and worked for decades, was designated the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, preserving her legacy for future generations.

Image source: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Statue dedicated at Riverside Park memorial

Oct 5, 1996

A monument honoring Eleanor Roosevelt was dedicated in New York City's Riverside Park, the first statue in a New York City park commemorating an American woman, cementing her legacy in the city she called home.

Image source: Eleanor Roosevelt Monument

Key Facts

Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 11, 1884, and was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt.
She served as First Lady from 1933 to 1945 during Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms as president, the longest-serving First Lady in U.S. history.
She held press conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column called 'My Day,' and traveled extensively to advocate for ordinary Americans during the Great Depression.
After FDR's death, she was appointed as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations and chaired the committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
She was a leading advocate for civil rights, famously resigning from the DAR in 1939 after it denied African American singer Marian Anderson permission to perform at Constitution Hall.

Source

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