Eleanor Roosevelt Honored on New U.S. Quarter
Learn about the many ways diplomat, activist, and 2023 American Women Quarters honoree Eleanor Roosevelt made American history through this selected collection of resources from across the Smithsonian, National Archives, and more.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) was a diplomat, activist, and the longest serving First Lady of the United States during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms as president from 1933 to 1945. She redefined the role of First Lady of the United States by focusing on politics and activism in addition to traditional social obligations. She wrote a newspaper column, “My Day,” held her own press conferences for women reporters, supported the civil rights movement, and openly advocated for underprivileged communities. In 2023, she was honored on a new quarter as part of the American Women Quarters™ Program, our partnership with the U.S. Mint. Explore the resources below to learn more about her life and activism.
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Activism
That One Time Eleanor Roosevelt Was a DJ - Smithsonian Magazine
During her White House years, Eleanor Roosevelt appeared on the radio more than 300 times, and her radio career lasted long after she was First Lady. In 1957, she took over as guest DJ at WNYC to raise awareness for the March of Dimes, a charity founded by her husband in 1938 to raise money for a cure for polio. During her turn as a DJ, Eleanor Roosevelt granted requests for kids with polio. After chatting with the children on air, she asked them what songs they would like her to play and put on everything from Elvis Presley to Harry Belafonte and Eddie Fisher. Listen to the broadcast here.
Eleanor Roosevelt at Tuskegee, 1941 - Smithsonian Insider
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt flew with pilot C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson, primary flight instructor at the Tuskegee Institute, during a visit to the flying school. Roosevelt’s willingness to fly with an African American pilot had great symbolic value and brought visibility and support to Tuskegee’s pilot-training program.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Newspaper Columnist - National Endowment for the Humanities
Eleanor Roosevelt’s newspaper column, “My Day,” started in 1935. She revealed much of her personal perspective and details about her daily life in the White House in her column, giving it a sense of vulnerability and candor that was unusual at the time for those holding positions in public office. Beyond the details of daily life, the columns could also be boldly political—especially after she returned to life as a private citizen and felt at greater liberty to speak her mind.
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International Relations
First Lady Delegate: Eleanor Roosevelt and the U.N. - National Archives Foundation
President Harry Truman, assuming office in the spring of 1945 after Franklin Roosevelt’s death, offered the prestigious position of the first United States delegate to the United Nations to Eleanor Roosevelt. She was instrumental in creating the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, working tirelessly to ensure that it not only provided for civil, political, social, and economic rights but also that it would be agreeable to three key stakeholders: the U.S. Department of State, the Soviet Union, and the U.N. General Assembly.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Soviet Sniper – Smithsonian Magazine
Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper credited with 309 kills—and an advocate for women’s rights. On a U.S. visit in 1942, she found a friend in the First Lady. In 1942, Pavlichenko became the first Soviet citizen to be welcomed at the White House. Afterwards, Eleanor Roosevelt invited her on a tour of the country to tell Americans about her experiences as a woman in combat and to make the case for a U.S. commitment to fighting the Nazis in Europe.
National Collections and Archives
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project
George Washington University’s Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project is an extensive archive of Eleanor Roosevelt’s writing available online and in print. The collection includes political pieces, speeches, newspaper columns, and transcripts from radio and television. In addition to sharing Roosevelt’s writings with the public, the project produces lesson plans and case studies to help teachers bring Eleanor Roosevelt into the classroom.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum – National Archives
The FDR Library and Museum has an ongoing digitization program aimed at making its vast collections of historical documents, photographs, sound recordings, film, and artifacts accessible to the widest possible audience. The collection includes significant documents about Eleanor Roosevelt’s accomplishments as First Lady, Chair of the United Nationals Human Rights Commission, and more.
Roosevelt Institute for American Studies
The Roosevelt Institute for American Studies houses a collection of over 68 oral history interviews, more than 200 radio programs, the collected papers of Eleanor Roosevelt (1933–1945), and the FBI files on Eleanor Roosevelt (1934–1965).