Grace Coolidge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grace Coolidge
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| First Lady of the United States | |
| In role August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929 |
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| President | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Florence Harding |
| Succeeded by | Lou Hoover |
| Second Lady of the United States | |
| In role March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 |
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| Vice President | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Lois Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Caro Dawes (1925) |
| First Lady of Massachusetts | |
| In role January 2, 1919 – January 6, 1921 |
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| Governor | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Ella McCall |
| Succeeded by | Mary Cox |
| Second Lady of Massachusetts | |
| In role January 6, 1916 – January 2, 1919 |
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| Lieutenant Governor | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Beatrice Barry (1915) |
| Succeeded by | Mary Cox |
| First Lady of Northampton | |
| In role January 3, 1910 – January 1, 1912 |
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| Mayor | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Margaret O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Feiker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Grace Anna Goodhue
January 3, 1879 Burlington, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | July 8, 1957 (aged 78) Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Resting place | Plymouth Notch Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including John |
| Education | University of Vermont (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Grace Anna Coolidge (born Goodhue; January 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957) was an important figure in American history. She was the wife of Calvin Coolidge, who became the 30th President of the United States. Grace served as the First Lady of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Before that, she was the Second Lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923.
Grace studied teaching at the University of Vermont, graduating in 1902. She then joined the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Northampton, Massachusetts. There, she taught deaf children to communicate using lip reading instead of signing. She met Calvin Coolidge in 1904, and they married the next year.
As her husband's political career grew, Grace stayed out of politics. When Calvin Coolidge became Governor of Massachusetts in 1919, she remained at home with their children. After he was elected vice president in 1920, the family moved to Washington, D.C.. Grace did not speak about political issues, including women's rights. Instead, she focused on supporting popular groups like the Red Cross.
After her son Calvin died in 1924, many people felt sympathy for her. Unlike some previous first ladies, Grace returned to her public duties after a few months. In 1929, when her husband's term as president ended, the couple moved back to Northampton. After Calvin's death in 1933, Grace continued her work with the deaf. She also wrote for magazines and served on school boards. During World War II, she helped Jewish refugees and supported the war effort. Grace Coolidge passed away in 1957 from heart disease. She was buried next to her husband and son in Plymouth, Vermont.
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Grace Coolidge's Early Life and Marriage
Grace Anna Goodhue was born on January 3, 1879, in Burlington, Vermont. She was the only child of Andrew and Lemira Goodhue. Her father worked as a steamboat inspector. Her mother taught her many home skills, such as knitting and cooking.
Grace started school at age five in Burlington. She became interested in music and took piano lessons. In 1893, she went to Burlington High School. There, she studied subjects like Latin, French, and biology. She also took lessons in public speaking.
In 1898, Grace enrolled at the University of Vermont. She helped start a sorority chapter there. She also acted in plays by William Shakespeare and joined the college's singing group. Grace was the first First Lady to earn a four-year college degree. From 1902 to 1904, she studied at the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech. She became a teacher there, helping deaf children learn to communicate. Teaching deaf children remained a passion for her throughout her life.
Grace met Calvin Coolidge in 1903. She was lively and charming, which was a good match for Calvin's quiet personality. In the summer of 1905, Calvin proposed to her. Grace said yes, but her mother was not happy about it at first. On October 4, 1905, Grace and Calvin married in a simple ceremony at her parents' home in Burlington. They spent their honeymoon in Montreal. Then, they settled in Northampton, Massachusetts, where they lived until 1930.
Calvin Coolidge's political career began in 1907. He was elected to the state legislature in Massachusetts. Later, he served as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and then Governor of Massachusetts. In 1920, he was elected vice president. Grace did not seek public attention during this time.
The Coolidges had two sons: John (born 1906) and Calvin (born 1908). In 1921, as the wife of the Vice President, Grace became very popular in Washington society.
Grace Coolidge as First Lady
After President Harding's death, Calvin Coolidge became president. Grace then became the First Lady. She made sure the White House social events were simple and proper, just as her husband wanted.
As First Lady, Grace was a popular host. She was also the first First Lady to speak in newsreels, which were short films with sound. A big social event during the Coolidge years was a party for Charles Lindbergh in 1927. This was after his famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Coolidges were a very close couple. However, the president never talked about government matters with Grace. She did not even know he had decided not to run for president again in 1928 until he told the news reporters. Grace received a gold medal from a national social science group. In 1931, she was named one of America's twelve greatest living women.
In 1926, the first family received a raccoon as a Thanksgiving gift. They kept it as a pet. President Coolidge even gave the raccoon a special collar that said "White House Racoon." After the Coolidges left the White House, the raccoon went to live at a zoo.
Later Life and Legacy
Calvin Coolidge once wrote about his marriage to Grace in his autobiography. He said she had put up with his faults for almost 25 years and that he was happy about her good qualities.
For more privacy, the Coolidges bought a large house called The Beeches in Northampton. The former president died there suddenly in 1933 at age 60. After her husband's death, Grace Coolidge continued her work helping the deaf. She was also active with the American Red Cross and helped with civil defense during World War II. Grace kept her fun spirit and avoided public attention until she died on July 8, 1957, at age 78. She is buried next to her husband in Plymouth, Vermont.
See also
In Spanish: Grace Coolidge para niños
