Rose Cleveland
Encyclopedia
Rose Elizabeth Cleveland (June 13, 1846 - November 22, 1918), was the First Lady of the United States
from 1885 to 1886, during the first of her brother U.S. President Grover Cleveland
's two administrations.
, on June 14th, 1846. Known to her family as "Libby", Rose was the youngest of nine children born to Reverend Richard Falley Cleveland and Ann Neal Cleveland. In 1853 the family moved to Holland Patent, New York
, where her father was settled as pastor of the Presbyterian church, and where he died that same year. Rose was 7 at the time of her father's death. She stayed in Holland Patent to care for her widowed mother. Grover Cleveland, Rose's elder brother, was 16 years old at the time. Determined to support his family, Grover left school, and he headed off to New York City
to work as a teacher at the State School for the Blind to help support his family. Rose was educated at Houghton seminary in Clinton, New York
and she became a teacher at Houghton in order to support herself and her widowed mother. Rose also taught at the Collegiate Institute in Lafayette, Indiana
, and at a girls school in Muncy, Pennsylvania
, where she taught in the late 1860s. At Muncy Seminary Rose was known for her strong personality and independence. Rose gained a nickname throughout her circle of friends in Muncy, they called her "Johnny Cleveland" because she was usually found reading a book under an old tree at a nearby farm. Rose then prepared a course of historical lectures; one lecture in particular focused on Altruistic
Faith, which she delivered before the students of Houghton seminary and at other schools. In the 1880's Rose returned to Holland Patent to care for her ailing mother. During this time Rose taught at Sunday School and did some work in literature. When not employed in this manner, she devoted herself to her aged mother in the homestead at Holland Patent until her mother's death in 1882. After Ann Neal Cleveland's death, Rose was left alone at the homestead known as "The Weeds." Rose continued to teach Sunday School and give lectures; one lecture on altruistic faith in which she stated, "We cannot touch humanity at large, except as we touch humanity in the individual. We make the world a better place through our concrete relationships, not through our vague, general good will. We must each find a true partner someone who understands and appreciates us, someone whose faith in us brings out our best efforts. Our deepest craving is for recognition-to be known by another human being for what we truly are," can help provide an understanding on what she believed and stood for.
, won the election to the twenty-second presidency of the United States, Rose became First Lady and lived in the White House
for two years, she stood by her brother as First Lady during his inauguration, and his two initial bachelor years in the White House.
During her early tenure as First Lady, Rose received front-page treatment from the New York Times about her appearance during her second reception at the White House. The Times reported that Miss Cleveland, Wore a dress of black satin, with entire overdress of Spanish lace. The satin bodice was cut low and sleeveless, and the transparent lace revealed the shoulders and arms. Rose Cleveland did not completely fit into Washington high society during her tenure as first lady. It is said that," Rose Cleveland was a bluestocking, more interested in pursuing scholarly endeavors than in entertaining cabinet wives and foreign dignitaries." Rose was an intellectual, and she preferred to lecture rather than entertain, but she made sure to perform her duties as First Lady as a favor to her brother.
When President Cleveland married Frances Folsom, Rose resigned and began a career in education. She became the principal of the Collegiate Institute of Lafayette, Indiana
, a writer and lecturer, and the editor of the Chicago-based magazine Literary Life.
bishop from Minnesota
, Henry Benjamin Whipple
. By 1910, after his death, the two women rekindled their relationship and eventually moved to Bagni di Lucca
, Italy
to live there together. They shared the house with the English illustrator and artist Nelly Erichsen
. Rose died at home on November 22, 1918 at 7:32 in the evening during the 1918 flu pandemic. She was buried there in the English Cemetery, and Evangeline was also buried next to Rose in the same cemetery 12 years later.
, and wrote the introduction for "Social Mirror: A Complete Treatise on the Laws, Rules and Usages that Govern our Most Refined Homes and Social Circles".
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
from 1885 to 1886, during the first of her brother U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
's two administrations.
Biography
Rose Elizabeth Cleveland was born in Fayetteville, New YorkFayetteville, New York
Fayetteville is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the village had a population of 4,190. The village is named after Lafayette, a national hero of both France and the United States...
, on June 14th, 1846. Known to her family as "Libby", Rose was the youngest of nine children born to Reverend Richard Falley Cleveland and Ann Neal Cleveland. In 1853 the family moved to Holland Patent, New York
Holland Patent, New York
Holland Patent is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 461 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a land grant....
, where her father was settled as pastor of the Presbyterian church, and where he died that same year. Rose was 7 at the time of her father's death. She stayed in Holland Patent to care for her widowed mother. Grover Cleveland, Rose's elder brother, was 16 years old at the time. Determined to support his family, Grover left school, and he headed off to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to work as a teacher at the State School for the Blind to help support his family. Rose was educated at Houghton seminary in Clinton, New York
Clinton, Clinton County, New York
Clinton is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 737 at the 2010 census. The Town of Clinton is located in the northwest corner of the county and is northwest of Plattsburgh.- History :...
and she became a teacher at Houghton in order to support herself and her widowed mother. Rose also taught at the Collegiate Institute in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, and at a girls school in Muncy, Pennsylvania
Muncy, Pennsylvania
For other places named 'Muncy', please see Muncy .Muncy is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The name Muncy comes from the Munsee Indians who once lived in the area. The population was 2,663 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania...
, where she taught in the late 1860s. At Muncy Seminary Rose was known for her strong personality and independence. Rose gained a nickname throughout her circle of friends in Muncy, they called her "Johnny Cleveland" because she was usually found reading a book under an old tree at a nearby farm. Rose then prepared a course of historical lectures; one lecture in particular focused on Altruistic
Altruism
Altruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
Faith, which she delivered before the students of Houghton seminary and at other schools. In the 1880's Rose returned to Holland Patent to care for her ailing mother. During this time Rose taught at Sunday School and did some work in literature. When not employed in this manner, she devoted herself to her aged mother in the homestead at Holland Patent until her mother's death in 1882. After Ann Neal Cleveland's death, Rose was left alone at the homestead known as "The Weeds." Rose continued to teach Sunday School and give lectures; one lecture on altruistic faith in which she stated, "We cannot touch humanity at large, except as we touch humanity in the individual. We make the world a better place through our concrete relationships, not through our vague, general good will. We must each find a true partner someone who understands and appreciates us, someone whose faith in us brings out our best efforts. Our deepest craving is for recognition-to be known by another human being for what we truly are," can help provide an understanding on what she believed and stood for.
White House years
When her elder brother, Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, won the election to the twenty-second presidency of the United States, Rose became First Lady and lived in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
for two years, she stood by her brother as First Lady during his inauguration, and his two initial bachelor years in the White House.
During her early tenure as First Lady, Rose received front-page treatment from the New York Times about her appearance during her second reception at the White House. The Times reported that Miss Cleveland, Wore a dress of black satin, with entire overdress of Spanish lace. The satin bodice was cut low and sleeveless, and the transparent lace revealed the shoulders and arms. Rose Cleveland did not completely fit into Washington high society during her tenure as first lady. It is said that," Rose Cleveland was a bluestocking, more interested in pursuing scholarly endeavors than in entertaining cabinet wives and foreign dignitaries." Rose was an intellectual, and she preferred to lecture rather than entertain, but she made sure to perform her duties as First Lady as a favor to her brother.
When President Cleveland married Frances Folsom, Rose resigned and began a career in education. She became the principal of the Collegiate Institute of Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, a writer and lecturer, and the editor of the Chicago-based magazine Literary Life.
Later years
At age 44, she started a lesbian relationship with a wealthy widow, Evangeline Simpson, with explicitly erotic correspondence. However things cooled off when Evangeline married an EpiscopalEpiscopal
Episcopal and episcopalian may refer to:*Bishop, an overseer in the Christian church*Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese*Episcopal Church , any church with "Episcopal" in its name...
bishop from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Henry Benjamin Whipple
Henry Benjamin Whipple
Henry Benjamin Whipple was the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, a humanitarian and an advocate for Native Americans.-Summary of his life:...
. By 1910, after his death, the two women rekindled their relationship and eventually moved to Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca is a comune of Tuscany, Italy, in the Province of Lucca with a population of c. 6,500.-History:Bagni di Lucca was known for its thermal springs since the Etruscan and Roman Ages....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to live there together. They shared the house with the English illustrator and artist Nelly Erichsen
Nelly Erichsen
Nelly Erichsen was an English illustrator and painter. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, she was the daughter of a wealthy professional Danish family...
. Rose died at home on November 22, 1918 at 7:32 in the evening during the 1918 flu pandemic. She was buried there in the English Cemetery, and Evangeline was also buried next to Rose in the same cemetery 12 years later.
Works
She published a volume of lectures and essays under the title George Eliot's Poetry, and other Studies (New York, 1885), The Long Run, a novel (1886)., "You and I: Or Moral, Intellectual and Social Culture", "How to Win: A Book for Girls" (1887) published with feminist leader Frances WillardFrances Willard
Frances Willard may refer to:* Frances Willard , American educator, temperance reformer and women's suffragist* Frances Willard , stage magician...
, and wrote the introduction for "Social Mirror: A Complete Treatise on the Laws, Rules and Usages that Govern our Most Refined Homes and Social Circles".