Marion Dickerman
Encyclopedia
Marion Dickerman was an American suffragette
, educator, vice-principal of the Todhunter School and an intimate of Eleanor Roosevelt
.
, New York
she studied for two years at Wellesley College before transferring to Syracuse University
from which she was graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1911 and a graduate degree in education in 1912.
She taught first at Canisteo, New York
, and in 1913 moved to Fulton, New York
, where she taught American history at Fulton High School. It was here that she again met Syracuse classmate Nancy Cook
, who taught arts and handicrafts at the same School. These two women become lifelong partners, spending almost their entire adult lives together, although Dickerman would also become involved in other lesbian
relationships off and on.
Her respect for Woodrow Wilson
's vision overcame her strong antiwar sentiments and she and Cook both became active in the Red Cross. As Dickerman later recounted, she "really believed this was a war to end wars and make the world safe for democracy
." In 1918, they both traveled to London
to assist the women-staffed Endell Street Military Hospital and "scrub floors or perform whatever other chores were required."
After their return she briefly entertained political aspirations but accepted the position of dean at the Trenton State College
in Trenton
, New Jersey
in 1921. Unhappy there, she one year later joined the faculty at the Todhunter school. Cook who was now the executive secretary of the Women's Division of the State Democratic Committee
would travel together with her in 1922 to Hyde Park
where they would meet Eleanor Roosevelt. Their common dedication to politics, education, and progressive reform would lead to a friendship that some speculate to be romantic, and in the purchase of the Todhunter School in 1927 and the three women would share the Val-Kill property.
Lorena Hickok
took an active dislike to her and this started to unravel the relationship between the three. By 1936 Val-Kill Industries
was disbanded. Dickerman and Cook continued to live in Stone Cottage until after Franklin D. Roosevelt
's death in 1945. They sold all interest in the Val-Kill property to Eleanor in 1947 when they moved to New Canaan
, Connecticut
, where Dickerman became the educational programing director for the Marine Museum.
She died in Kennett Square
, Pennsylvania
.
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
, educator, vice-principal of the Todhunter School and an intimate of Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
.
Birth and early life
Born in WestfieldWestfield, New York
Westfield, New York may refer to:*Westfield , New York*Westfield , New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
she studied for two years at Wellesley College before transferring to Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
from which she was graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1911 and a graduate degree in education in 1912.
Career
Canisteo, New York
Canisteo may refer to two municipalities in Steuben County, New York in the United States:*Canisteo , New York*Canisteo , New York, located entirely within the town...
, and in 1913 moved to Fulton, New York
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
, where she taught American history at Fulton High School. It was here that she again met Syracuse classmate Nancy Cook
Nancy Cook
Nancy Cook was an American suffragette, teacher, part owner of the Todhunter School and an intimate of Eleanor Roosevelt.-Birth and early life:...
, who taught arts and handicrafts at the same School. These two women become lifelong partners, spending almost their entire adult lives together, although Dickerman would also become involved in other lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationships off and on.
Her respect for Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's vision overcame her strong antiwar sentiments and she and Cook both became active in the Red Cross. As Dickerman later recounted, she "really believed this was a war to end wars and make the world safe for democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
." In 1918, they both traveled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to assist the women-staffed Endell Street Military Hospital and "scrub floors or perform whatever other chores were required."
After their return she briefly entertained political aspirations but accepted the position of dean at the Trenton State College
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey, abbreviated TCNJ, is a public, coeducational university located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Trenton....
in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1921. Unhappy there, she one year later joined the faculty at the Todhunter school. Cook who was now the executive secretary of the Women's Division of the State Democratic Committee
New York State Democratic Committee
The New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
would travel together with her in 1922 to Hyde Park
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
where they would meet Eleanor Roosevelt. Their common dedication to politics, education, and progressive reform would lead to a friendship that some speculate to be romantic, and in the purchase of the Todhunter School in 1927 and the three women would share the Val-Kill property.
Lorena Hickok
Lorena Hickok
Lorena Alice Hickok was an American journalist and confidante of Eleanor Roosevelt. Her relationship with Roosevelt has been the subject of research.-Early life:...
took an active dislike to her and this started to unravel the relationship between the three. By 1936 Val-Kill Industries
Val-Kill Industries
Eleanor Roosevelt established Val-Kill Industries in 1927 with Nancy Cook, Marion Dickerman, and Caroline O'Day, three friends she met through her activities in the Women's Division of the New York State Democratic Party. Val-Kill was located on the banks of a stream that flowed through the...
was disbanded. Dickerman and Cook continued to live in Stone Cottage until after Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's death in 1945. They sold all interest in the Val-Kill property to Eleanor in 1947 when they moved to New Canaan
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, where Dickerman became the educational programing director for the Marine Museum.
She died in Kennett Square
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Kennett Square is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over a million pounds of mushrooms a year...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.