Harriet Williams Russell Strong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harriet Williams Russell Strong
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| Born | July 23, 1844 |
| Died | September 6, 1926 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Inventor, Philanthropist, suffragist and women's rights activist |
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Harriet Williams Russell Strong (born July 23, 1844 – died September 6, 1926) was an American activist, inventor, and businesswoman. She was also a conservationist and a key leader in the early women's rights movement.
Harriet Strong is famous for her new ideas in water storage and flood control. Her inventions helped make big projects like the Hoover Dam and the All-American Canal possible. She has been honored in the National Women's Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harriet Williams Russell was born in Buffalo, New York. She was the fourth daughter of Henry Pierrepont and Mary Guest Russell. Harriet received her education from private teachers. She also attended the Young Ladies Seminary in Benicia, California.
Family Life and Business Ventures
In 1861, Harriet's family moved to Carson City, Nevada. There, she met Charles Lyman Strong, who would become her husband. They married in Virginia City, Nevada when Harriet was nineteen years old.
When Harriet was 39, her husband passed away. She was left to care for their four daughters. Her husband's property, which included mines and land in Southern California, faced legal issues for eight years. Harriet then took charge of managing and developing this property. It was known as Ranchito del Fuerte in the San Gabriel Valley, California. She planted many walnut and orange trees, which brought in good profits.
In 1897, Harriet drilled several artesian wells to get water. To use this water, she bought 1,000 acres (about 4 square kilometers) of land nearby. She set up a pumping system and started the Paso de Bartolo Water Company. Harriet was the president of this company. Her two daughters worked as treasurer and secretary. Four years later, she sold the property for a good profit.
Pioneering Water Inventions
Harriet Strong spent a lot of time studying water shortages. She also looked into how to control floods and store water. She believed that saving water at its source was the best way to prevent floods. She suggested building a series of dams in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. This would help save water for farming (irrigation) and for making electricity.
On December 6, 1887, Harriet received a patent for her new dam and reservoir design. Her invention involved building several dams, one behind the other, in a valley or canyon. When the lowest dam filled with water, the water would reach partway up the next dam. This would help support the dam above it.
She received another patent on November 6, 1894. This one was for a new way to hold back debris and store water. Harriet was awarded two medals for these inventions at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
In 1918, she spoke to a government committee about water power. She strongly urged the government to store the floodwaters of the Colorado River. She suggested building a series of dams using her method in the Grand Canyon. This would control floods and provide more water for irrigation. It would also make thousands of acres of land useful and create a lot of electricity.
Community Involvement and Later Years
Harriet Strong was also a talented musical composer. She published several songs and a book of musical sketches. For many years, she was the vice president of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra Association.
She founded Ebell of Los Angeles, a women's club, and served as its president for three terms. Harriet was also a member of other clubs in Los Angeles. She became the first woman member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. She was also on the executive board of the Inland Waterways Association of San Francisco.
In 1918, Harriet was a delegate at the annual convention of the United States Chamber of Commerce in Chicago. She represented both the Whittier and Los Angeles chambers of commerce. She was the first woman delegate to attend these conventions. She also helped save the historic adobe home of Pío Pico, who was a family friend.
Harriet Strong passed away in 1926 after an automobile accident.
Images for kids
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Harriet Williams Russell Strong
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Harriet Strong's signature
See also
In Spanish: Harriet Williams Russell Strong para niños
