Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States. She was born in New York City in 1884. She was married to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She fought for civil rights, women's rights, and human rights around the world.

Early Life

Roosevelt lost both parents by age 10 and was raised by her grandmother. She was shy but caring. She attended school in England, where she gained confidence. She married her distant cousin Franklin Roosevelt in 1905.

Big Achievements

As First Lady, Roosevelt held her own press conferences and wrote a daily newspaper column. After her husband died, she served as a delegate to the United Nations. She helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. President Truman called her the First Lady of the World.

Fun Facts

• Roosevelt was the first First Lady to hold regular press conferences.
• She wrote a daily newspaper column called My Day for 27 years.
• She resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution when they refused to let a Black singer perform.

Did You Know?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Roosevelt helped create, has been translated into over 500 languages. It is one of the most important documents in history and protects the rights of people everywhere.