Narcissa Cox Vanderlip facts for kids
Narcissa Cox Vanderlip (1879-1966) was an important American woman. She worked hard to help women gain the right to vote. She also supported many other causes throughout her life.
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Who Was Narcissa Cox Vanderlip?
Narcissa Cox Vanderlip was born Mabel Narcissa Cox in 1879. She grew up to become a leader in women's rights. She also helped start schools and improve healthcare.
Early Life and Family
Narcissa went to the University of Chicago. She left before finishing to get married. On May 19, 1903, she married Frank A. Vanderlip in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1905, Narcissa and Frank bought a home called Beechwood. It was located on the Hudson River in Briarcliff Manor, New York. They loved Beechwood very much.
In 1913, Narcissa and Frank started the Scarborough School at Beechwood. This was the first Montessori school in the United States. Montessori schools use a special way of teaching. It helps children learn by exploring and discovering things themselves.
The Vanderlips also helped develop many places in California. These included Wayfarers Chapel and Marineland of the Pacific. They also helped create Marymount College and Chadwick School.
During World War I, Narcissa and Frank traveled across America. They sold special bonds to help the war effort. These bonds helped fund the country's needs during the war. Narcissa and Frank had six children: Charlotte, Narcissa, Virginia, Frank Jr., Kelvin, and John.
Working for Women's Rights
Narcissa was a strong supporter of women's rights. She was a leading suffragist in New York. A suffragist is someone who works for women's right to vote.
She also helped start the New York State League of Women Voters. This group helps people understand politics. It also encourages them to vote. From 1919 to 1923, Narcissa was the leader of this group.
Narcissa was friends with Eleanor Roosevelt. She even asked Eleanor Roosevelt to join the League of Women Voters board. They had worked together on projects during the war.
Helping the Community
In 1929, Narcissa became the president of the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. This was a hospital that cared for women and children. She held this important job for 37 years. She helped the hospital grow and serve many people.
The Famous Green Ball
In 1934, a famous public relations expert named Edward Bernays had a problem. He wanted more women to buy Lucky Strike cigarettes. But the green and red package did not match popular fashion colors.
The company leader did not want to change the package color. So, Bernays decided to make green a popular color instead. He planned a big social event called the Green Ball. Narcissa Cox Vanderlip hosted this ball at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.
The ball was held to raise money for charity. Many famous women attended, all wearing green dresses. Clothing stores and designers were told about the excitement around the color green. Soon, newspapers and magazines began writing about green being the new fashionable color. This helped make green very popular.
