Edith Derby Williams
Encyclopedia
Edith Roosevelt Williams (June 17, 1917 – June 8, 2008) was a historian
, conservationist
, a granddaughter of the 26th President of the United States
Theodore Roosevelt
.
Williams was born in New York
to Dr. Richard Derby and Ethel Carow Roosevelt
. Edith Roosevelt Derby was the second child of Dr. and Mrs. Derby and the eldest daughter. Former President
Theodore Roosevelt
was her grandfather. She was named for her grandmother Edith Roosevelt
. Not unlike many members of her nationally prominent family, she took her civic
responsibilities seriously. She was actively involved in Republican
politics and addressed the 1960 Republican National Convention
, seconding the nomination of Richard Nixon
. Later she founded the Vashon Island Health Center. For forty years she was the Republican Committeewoman for the state of Washington. In 1975 Williams was named to the Board of Trustees for the University of Washington
where she served until 1981. Mrs. Williams served on the Board of Trustees for the Theodore Roosevelt Association
where she received the Rose Award in 2004 for her many years of service and dedication to the organization. Williams was also recognised for her work in behalf of conservation
and promoting a healthier environment by reducing pollution
.
In 1941 she married Andrew "Mike" Murray Williams (1916–1998). After World War II
in 1946, the family moved to Washington State and settled in the Seattle
area. The Williams' had three children, Andrew Murray, Jr. (1942–2004), Richard Derby (born 1944) and Sarah Gilmore (born 1948). Bruce K. Chapman
is her son-in-law.
At 90 years, 356 days, Williams died on June 8, 2008 after breaking her hip at her Vashon Island, Washington home. She lived more years than any of Theodore Roosevelt
's grandchildren. Funeral services were held June 15 at the Church of the Holy Spirit-Episcopal, Vashon, and she was laid to rest there at the churchyard.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, conservationist
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
, a granddaughter of the 26th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
.
Williams was born in 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...
to Dr. Richard Derby and Ethel Carow Roosevelt
Ethel Roosevelt Derby
Ethel Carow Roosevelt Derby was the youngest daughter and fourth child of the President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt...
. Edith Roosevelt Derby was the second child of Dr. and Mrs. Derby and the eldest daughter. Former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
was her grandfather. She was named for her grandmother Edith Roosevelt
Edith Roosevelt
Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1909.-Early life:...
. Not unlike many members of her nationally prominent family, she took her civic
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...
responsibilities seriously. She was actively involved in Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politics and addressed the 1960 Republican National Convention
1960 Republican National Convention
The 1960 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre....
, seconding the nomination of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. Later she founded the Vashon Island Health Center. For forty years she was the Republican Committeewoman for the state of Washington. In 1975 Williams was named to the Board of Trustees for the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where she served until 1981. Mrs. Williams served on the Board of Trustees for the Theodore Roosevelt Association
Theodore Roosevelt Association
The Theodore Roosevelt Association is a historical and cultural organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt , the 26th president of the United States....
where she received the Rose Award in 2004 for her many years of service and dedication to the organization. Williams was also recognised for her work in behalf of conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
and promoting a healthier environment by reducing pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
.
In 1941 she married Andrew "Mike" Murray Williams (1916–1998). After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1946, the family moved to Washington State and settled in the Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
area. The Williams' had three children, Andrew Murray, Jr. (1942–2004), Richard Derby (born 1944) and Sarah Gilmore (born 1948). Bruce K. Chapman
Bruce Chapman
Bruce K. Chapman is the director and founder of the Discovery Institute, an American conservative think tank often associated with the religious right. He was previously a journalist, a Republican Party politician and a diplomat.- Political career :After graduating from Harvard University in 1962,...
is her son-in-law.
At 90 years, 356 days, Williams died on June 8, 2008 after breaking her hip at her Vashon Island, Washington home. She lived more years than any of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's grandchildren. Funeral services were held June 15 at the Church of the Holy Spirit-Episcopal, Vashon, and she was laid to rest there at the churchyard.