First Lady Caroline Harrison
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Marker Inscription
First Lady Caroline Harrison Caroline Scott Harrison (1832-1892), wife of President Benjamin Harrison, advocated for the arts and worked to expand woman's influence outside the home. She was active in charity work in Indiana and Washington, D.C., including 30 years on the Indianapolis Orphans Asylum board of managers. She campaigned to gain women's admission to Johns Hopkins Medical School. First President General NSDAR As First Lady (1880-1892), Harrison promoted preserving the White House and its collections. She secured congressional funding to direct renovations modernizing the interior, saved historic furnishings and founded the white House China Collection. She served as first President General of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution from 1890 until death.
Erected by Indiana Historical Bureau, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, and the Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter NSDAR
The Story
Caroline Scott Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, used her position to champion the arts and to widen women's influence beyond the home. In Indiana and Washington she devoted decades to charity, including thirty years on the Indianapolis Orphans Asylum board, and campaigned to open Johns Hopkins Medical School to women. As First Lady she led efforts to preserve the White House and founded its china collection, and in 1890 became the first President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Why it matters
Harrison expanded the public role of the First Lady and advanced women's education and civic leadership at the close of the 19th century.
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Related people
- · Caroline Scott Harrison
- · Benjamin Harrison
Themes & tags
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