Nancy Cook
Encyclopedia
Nancy Cook was an American suffragette
, teacher, part owner of the Todhunter School and an intimate of Eleanor Roosevelt
.
, New York
she attended Syracuse University
from which she was graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1912.
, where she taught art
and handicrafts to high school students from 1913 to 1918. It was here that she again met Syracuse classmate Marion Dickerman
, who taught arts and handicrafts at the same School. These two women become lifelong partners, spending almost their entire adult lives together.
Her respect for Woodrow Wilson
's vision overcame her strong antiwar sentiments and she and Dickerman both became active in the Red Cross. As Dickerman later recounted, they "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." Cook would, with less than two weeks training, begin to make artificial limbs for soldiers that had lost an arm or a leg.
Cook, who had never felt teaching to be her element, was delighted when Harriet Hay Mills, asked Cook if she would accept the position as executive secretary of the Women's Division of the State Democratic Committee, a post she would hold for nineteen years. She held key responsibility in Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.
Cook and Dickerman became frequent guests of the Roosevelts. The three women, with FDR
's encouragement, built Stone Cottage at Val-Kill, on the banks of the FallKill creek. Cook and Dickerman made this their year around home and Eleanor had her own room, although she rarely spent the night. Cook, an expert woodworker, made all furniture. Towels, linens, and various household items were monogrammed "EMN", intertwining the three women's initials. In 1927, Cook helped start Val-Kill Industries
, whose daily operations she would manage until the business closed.
Thrilled with FDR's victory, Cook and Dickerman found it difficult to understand Eleanor's anxiety over her role as first lady
. By 1936, when Val-Kill Industries dissolved, Eleanor moved out of the Stone Cottage she shared with Cook and Dickerman and had the factory building remodeled.
Lorena Hickok
took an active dislike to Dickerman and this started to unravel the relationship between the three. 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 programming director for the Marine Museum.
Cook lived there with Dickerman, her life partner, until her death.
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...
, teacher, part owner 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 MassenaMassena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
, 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 attended 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 1912.
Career
She taught first at Fulton, New YorkFulton, 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 art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and handicrafts to high school students from 1913 to 1918. It was here that she again met Syracuse classmate Marion Dickerman
Marion Dickerman
Marion Dickerman was an American suffragette, educator, vice-principal 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.
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 Dickerman both became active in the Red Cross. As Dickerman later recounted, they "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." Cook would, with less than two weeks training, begin to make artificial limbs for soldiers that had lost an arm or a leg.
Cook, who had never felt teaching to be her element, was delighted when Harriet Hay Mills, asked Cook if she would accept the position as executive secretary of the Women's Division of the State Democratic Committee, a post she would hold for nineteen years. She held key responsibility in Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.
Cook and Dickerman became frequent guests of the Roosevelts. The three women, with FDR
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 encouragement, built Stone Cottage at Val-Kill, on the banks of the FallKill creek. Cook and Dickerman made this their year around home and Eleanor had her own room, although she rarely spent the night. Cook, an expert woodworker, made all furniture. Towels, linens, and various household items were monogrammed "EMN", intertwining the three women's initials. In 1927, Cook helped start 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...
, whose daily operations she would manage until the business closed.
Thrilled with FDR's victory, Cook and Dickerman found it difficult to understand Eleanor's anxiety over her role as first lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
. By 1936, when Val-Kill Industries dissolved, Eleanor moved out of the Stone Cottage she shared with Cook and Dickerman and had the factory building remodeled.
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 Dickerman and this started to unravel the relationship between the three. 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 programming director for the Marine Museum.
Cook lived there with Dickerman, her life partner, until her death.