Ida Straus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ida Straus
|
|
|---|---|
Straus with her husband Isidor
|
|
| Born |
Rosalie Ida Blun
February 6, 1849 Worms, Germany
|
| Died | April 15, 1912 (aged 63) |
| Spouse(s) | Isidor Straus (1871–1912) |
| Children | Jesse Isidor Straus Clarence Elias Straus Percy Seldon Straus Sara (Straus) Hess Minnie (Straus) Weil Hebert Nathan Straus Vivian (Straus) Dixon |
| Relatives | King Princess (great-great-grandchild) |
Ida Straus (born Rosalie Ida Blun on February 6, 1849) was an American woman known for being the wife of Isidor Straus. He co-owned the famous Macy's department store. Ida and Isidor tragically died together when the RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Their story of loyalty and love became very well known.
Contents
Ida's Early Life and Family
Ida Blun was born in 1849 in Worms, Germany. Her parents were Nathan Blun and Wilhelmine "Mindel" Freudenberg. Ida was one of seven children in her family. She later moved to the United States with her family.
In 1871, Ida Blun married Isidor Straus. He was a successful German-Jewish American businessman. Together, Ida and Isidor had seven children:
- Jesse Isidor Straus (1872–1936)
- Clarence Elias Straus (1874–1876)
- Percy Selden Straus (1876–1944)
- Sara Straus (1878–1960)
- Minnie Straus (1880–1940)
- Herbert Nathan Straus (1881–1933)
- Vivian Straus (1886–1974)
_Straus_marriage.jpg)
Friends and family saw Ida and Isidor as a very close couple. When Isidor traveled for his work, they would write letters to each other every day. This showed how much they cared for one another.
The Trip on the Titanic
In the winter of 1911 and 1912, Ida and Isidor were traveling in Europe. They had planned to return home on a different ship. However, a coal strike in England changed their plans. Because of the strike, coal from other ships was given to the Titanic. This meant the Strauses had to switch their tickets and sail on the Titanic instead.
The Sinking of the Titanic and Ida's Legacy
On the night the Titanic sank, Isidor and Ida were near Lifeboat No. 8. Ida's maid, Ellen Bird, was also with them. The officer in charge of the lifeboat offered to let the elderly couple board. However, Isidor Straus refused to go. He said he would not leave while there were still women and children on the ship.
Isidor urged his wife, Ida, to get into the lifeboat. But she bravely refused to leave him. She famously said, "We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go." Many people on the ship's deck heard her words. Isidor and Ida were last seen standing together, arm in arm.
When the survivors arrived in New York City, many shared Ida's story. Her maid, Ellen Bird, told reporters about Mrs. Straus's loyalty. Ida's actions touched people all over the world. Rabbis spoke about her sacrifice in their churches. Newspapers in Yiddish and German praised her courage. A popular song called "The Titanic's Disaster" was even written about Ida Straus.
Isidor's body was found after the sinking, but Ida's body was not. There is a special memorial, called a cenotaph, for both Isidor and Ida. It is at the Straus Mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. The words on it say: "Many waters cannot quench love – neither can the floods drown it." This quote comes from the Bible.
Ida Straus in Movies and Musicals
Ida Straus's story has been told in many films and plays. Here are some of the actresses who have played her:
- Helen Van Tuyl in the 1953 film Titanic
- Helen Misener in the 1958 film A Night to Remember
- Nancy Nevinson in the 1979 TV movie S.O.S. Titanic
- Janie Woods-Morris in the 1996 miniseries Titanic
- Elsa Raven in the famous 1997 film Titanic
- Alma Cuervo in the 1997 Broadway musical Titanic
In the musical, when Ida decides to stay with her husband, they sing a song called "Still."
Memorials to Ida and Isidor
Besides the cenotaph at Woodlawn Cemetery, there are other memorials for Isidor and Ida Straus in New York City. These places honor their memory:
- A special plaque is at the main entrance of Macy's Department Store in Manhattan. This entrance was closed for many years but reopened in 2013. It has a tall arch and two brass plaques. One plaque remembers Ida and Isidor Straus.
- The Isidor and Ida Straus Memorial is in Straus Park. This park is located in Manhattan where Broadway and West End Avenue meet.
- Public school P.S. 198 in Manhattan is also named after the Strauses. It is called the Isidor & Ida Straus School.
See also
In Spanish: Ida Straus para niños
