Anna "Bamie" Roosevelt Cowles in 1882

Anna Roosevelt Cowles (January 18, 1855 – August 25, 1931) was the older sister of United States President Theodore Roosevelt. Her childhood nickname was Bamie, a derivative of bambina, but as an adult, her family began calling her "Bye" because of her tremendous on-the-go energy - (Hi Bamie, bye Bamie). Throughout the life of her brother, Theodore, she remained a constant source of emotional support and practical advice. On the death of her brother Theodore's young wife Alice, Bamie took on substitute parental responsibilities when, for a number of years, TR entrusted her with the custody of his first daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt. Image File history File links Bamie_roosevelt. ... Image File history File links Bamie_roosevelt. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. ... Bambino is an Italian word meaning boy. Bambina means girl. In the United States, Bambino is best known as one of the nicknames of baseball legend Babe Ruth. ... Alice Hathaway Lee was only seventeen when she first met Theodore Roosevelt on Oct 18, 1878 Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt (July 29, 1861 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts – February 14, 1884 in Manhattan, New York) was the first wife of Theodore Roosevelt and the mother of their only child together, Alice... Alice Roosevelt, taken about 1900. ...

Early life

Afflicted by a spinal ailment that led to her being partially crippled and confined by corrective steel braces as a child, Anna was born in a brownstone home at 28 East 20th Street in New York City on January 18, 1855. Her parents were Martha and Theodore Roosevelt. Her other siblings were Elliott Roosevelt and Corinne Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is a unit of the National Park Service at 28 E. 20th Street in New York, New York. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Martha Bulloch age 22 - Was She the inspiration for the Scarlett OHara character? Martha Bulloch Roosevelt (July 8, 1835 – February 14, 1884) was the mother of US President Theodore Roosevelt and the paternal grandmother of Eleanor Roosevelt. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. ... Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt (February 28, 1860- August 14, 1894) was the brother of US President Theodore Roosevelt and the father of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who would marry her Hyde Park Roosevelt cousin and future US President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ... Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (September 27, 1861- February 17, 1933) was the younger sister of former President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt and an aunt of former First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt. ...

TR's daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, once remarked that had Bamie, with her incredible intelligence and energy, been born a 19th Century man, without the social restrictions that the era placed on women, she would have been president instead of her brother. Bamie's niece, Eleanor Roosevelt stated in her autobiography that Bamie had "an able man's mind." Although she was not the stunningly gorgeous woman that her mother, Mittie or her first sister-in-law, TR's first wife, Alice was, her natural intelligence and energy drew both men and women to her like a magnet. She remained an emotional pillar of strength for all the Roosevelts. Alice Roosevelt, taken about 1900. ... Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American political leader who used her stature as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 to promote her husbands (Franklin D. Roosevelts) New Deal, as well as Civil Rights. ... Cover of An autobiography, from the Greek auton, self, bios, life and graphein, write, is a biography written by the subject or composed conjointly with a collaborative writer (styled as told to or with). The term dates from the late eighteenth century, but the form is much older. ...

Family responsibilities from a young age

Because Bamie's mother, Mittie, was often distracted by illness or her grand social life, Bamie increasingly took a center role in running her the Roosevelt household, especially after the premature death of her father, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. In fact, TR's first daughter remarked that Bamie almost seemed to be born into middle age, so significant were adult-like responsibilities put into her hands from childhood; and unlike many children in a similar situation, Bamie, had the natural maturity, judgement and wisdom to "hold the family together," in the language of TR's first daughter, Alice in speaking of her Aunt Bye. Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. ... Alice Roosevelt, taken about 1900. ...

When TR's first wife died, Alice died suddenly, most probably of kidney failure, Bamie took custody of her child of a few days, Alice quickly known as Baby Lee for her mother's family, the Lees of Boston. Alice would say of Bamie that she was the most influential person in her entire life. When the young and vivacious Alice became more than her step-mother Edith Roosevelt or her father could handle, they would send her up to Auntie Bye for a dose of discipline and to give her the structure that the Roosevelts in the White House were not in the position to do. Alice Hathaway Lee was only seventeen when she first met Theodore Roosevelt on Oct 18, 1878 Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt (July 29, 1861 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts – February 14, 1884 in Manhattan, New York) was the first wife of Theodore Roosevelt and the mother of their only child together, Alice... Alice Roosevelt, taken about 1900. ...

On the death of her sister-in-law, Anna Roosevelt, Elliott's wife, wished for Bamie to seek custody of her children Eleanor, Elliott Jr. and Hall. This was not immediately possible however, considering that Elliott was still alive and could not be bypassed in the event of litigation. Bamie considered a custody suit but realized that Mary Hall, Eleanor's grandmother would not be willing to turn the children over to Bamie's care. She did open her home to Eleanor who was a welcome visitor and made extended stays. Bamie was successful though in getting Eleanor out of the home by demanding that she be sent to Allenswood school for girls in England where Eleanor developed socially and emotionally. During Eleanor and Alice's childhood, Bamie kept the other informed of the other's activities thus helping to maintain a relationship between the two. She was close to both girls and attributed greatly to their development. Anna Eleanor Rebecca Livingston Ludlow Hall Roosevelt (March 17, 1863 - December 7, 1892) was the mother of former First Lady of the United States, Anna E. Roosevelt. ... Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt (February 28, 1860- August 14, 1894) was the brother of US President Theodore Roosevelt and the father of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who would marry her Hyde Park Roosevelt cousin and future US President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ... Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American political leader who used her stature as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 to promote her husbands (Franklin D. Roosevelts) New Deal, as well as Civil Rights. ... Gracie Hall Roosevelt (June 2, 1891 - September 25, 1941) was the youngest brother of former First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt and the nephew of Theodore Roosevelt. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ...

TR's lifelong confidante

Throughout his life, Bamie's brother Theodore often turned to her for counsel in letters and personal conversations. In fact, it was said by their niece Eleanor TR made few important significant political decisions and even fewer personal decisions without getting the input of his sister. She remained a trusted confidant for his entire career. As president, he would walk down to her residence at 18th and I in Washington, DC so often, that Bamie's house was sometimes called the "other White House." As she became more infirm, TR turned more and more to his daughter, Alice for advice and to act as a go-between in delicate political situations. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American political leader who used her stature as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 to promote her husbands (Franklin D. Roosevelts) New Deal, as well as Civil Rights. ... Alice Roosevelt, taken about 1900. ...

Marriage

In 1895 at age 40, Anna Roosevelt married US Navy Lt. Commander (later Rear Admiral) William Sheffield Cowles (1846—1923), a divorcé who was 49. They had one child, William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. (1898—1986), who married Margaret Alwyn Krech in 1920. William Sheffield Cowles, Sr. ...

Later life

When her niece, Eleanor Roosevelt campaigned against Eleanor's first cousin and Bamie's nephew Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., she publicly broke with her niece after the ordeal. In a letter to her son, Bamie wrote of Eleanor: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American political leader who used her stature as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 to promote her husbands (Franklin D. Roosevelts) New Deal, as well as Civil Rights. ... Theodore Roosevelt. ...

"I just hate to see Eleanor let herself look as she does. Though never handsome, she always had to me a charming effect. Alas and alack, ever since politics have become her choiciest interest, all her charm has disappeared!"

Bamie's niece, and TR's daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth also broke with Eleanor over this highly distasteful (to Theodore's family) political activity that included Eleanor riding up to Ted, Jr's speaking engagements with a teapot on her car to remind voters of Ted's supposed (but later disproved) connections to the Teapot Dome Scandal. Eleanor dismissed Bamie's criticisms by referring to her as an "aged woman." Despite all these intra-family discords, long after Bamie's death, Alice and Eleanor would later reconcile after Eleanor wrote Alice a comforting letter upon the tragic death of Alice's daughter, Paulina Longworth. Alice Roosevelt, taken about 1900. ... Teapot Dome is a reference to an oil field on public land in Wyoming, so named because of a rock resembling a teapot overlooking the field. ... Paulina Longworth Sturm (February 14, 1925 - January 27, 1957) was the only child of Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Ohio Congressman Nicholas Longworth, and the granddaughter of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. ...

Eleanor Roosevelt on her Aunt Bamie

Bamie and her niece, Eleanor Roosevelt eventually reconciled, and in an article in the Ladies Home Journal, "How to Take Criticism," Eleanor referred to her aunt Bamie, saying, "I can honestly say that I hate no one, and perhaps the best advice I can give to anyone who suffers from criticism and yet must be in the public eye, would be contained in the words of my aunt, Mrs. William Sheffield Cowles. She was President Theodore Roosevelt's sister and the aunt to whom many of the young people in the family went for advice. I had asked her whether I should do something which at that time would have caused a great deal of criticism, and her answer was: "Do not be bothered by what people say as long as you are sure that you are doing what seems right to you, but be sure that you face yourself honestly." ^[1]

Bamie's death in 1931

Alice and Eleanor's warmest link to their fathers' generation passed away on the night of August 25, 1931 aged 76. Her last words, "Never mind, it's all right," were reportedly spoken to her friend Sara Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother, before Bamie slipped into a coma and died. August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... ... Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882–April 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States, the longest-serving holder of the office and the only man to be elected President more than twice, was one of the central figures of 20th century history. ... Comatose redirects here. ...

Notes

The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Sources

Primary sources

• Roosevelt, Theodore. An Autobiography. (1913)
• Caroli, Betty Boyd. The Roosevelt Women, Basic Books (1998)

Secondary sources

• Beale Howard K. Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of America to World Power (1956).
• Brands, H.W. Theodore Roosevelt (2001)
• Dalton, Kathleen. Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life. (2002)
• Harbaugh, William Henry. The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt. (1963)
• McCullouch, David. Mornings on Horseback, The Story of an Extraordinary Family. a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt (2001)
• Morris, Edmund The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (1979)
• Morris, Edmund Theodore Rex. (2001)
• Mowry, George. The era of Theodore Roosevelt and the birth of modern America, 1900-1912. (1954)

Edmund Morris is a British biographer, winner of the 1980 Pulitzer Prize. ...

External link

• Women in history of Scots descent