Helen Taft Manning
Encyclopedia
Helen Herron Taft Manning (August 1, 1891-February 21, 1987), was the second child and only daughter of President of the United States
William Howard Taft
and his wife Helen Herron
.
Like her older brother Robert
and younger brother Charles
, Helen was a high achiever. She fulfilled goals that her mother had been denied by the social restrictions placed on women of her mother's time. Helen earned a scholarship
to attend Bryn Mawr College
. She was a student at Bryn Mawr when her father became President.
Her studies were interrupted for some time when her mother suffered a stroke
, and was left an invalid. Helen moved into the White House
with her family, and helped her mother to regain body movement and speech. She also served as official hostess for many White House functions while her mother was disabled. In December, 1910, Helen was given a debutante
party at the White House.
After her mother recovered, Helen resumed her studies at Bryn Mawr. She graduated in 1915 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 1917, aged only 26, she became Dean
of the College, and served as acting president in 1919.
She then attended Yale University
, where she earned a doctorate in history. In 1925, she returned to Bryn Mawr as Dean and professor of history. She served as Dean until 1941, and taught history until her retirement in 1957, having become head of the department.
She was a suffragette
, and traveled the country, giving speeches in support of the vote for women and women's rights.
On July 15, 1920, she married Yale history professor Frederick Johnson Manning, who then moved to Swarthmore College
. The Mannings had two daughters: Helen Taft Manning (born 1921) and Caroline Manning (born 1925). Manning died in 1987 at 95 of pneumonia
.
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....
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
and his wife Helen Herron
Helen Herron Taft
Helen Louise Herron "Nellie" Taft was the wife of William Howard Taft and First Lady of the United States from 1909 to 1913.-Early years:...
.
Like her older brother Robert
Robert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
and younger brother Charles
Charles Phelps Taft II
Charles Phelps Taft II was a U.S. Republican Party politician and member of the Taft family. From 1955 to 1957, he served as Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. Like other members of his family, Taft was a Republican for the purposes of state-wide elections. However, when running for municipal office in...
, Helen was a high achiever. She fulfilled goals that her mother had been denied by the social restrictions placed on women of her mother's time. Helen earned a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to attend Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
. She was a student at Bryn Mawr when her father became President.
Her studies were interrupted for some time when her mother suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, and was left an invalid. Helen moved into the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
with her family, and helped her mother to regain body movement and speech. She also served as official hostess for many White House functions while her mother was disabled. In December, 1910, Helen was given a debutante
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
party at the White House.
After her mother recovered, Helen resumed her studies at Bryn Mawr. She graduated in 1915 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 1917, aged only 26, she became Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the College, and served as acting president in 1919.
She then attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where she earned a doctorate in history. In 1925, she returned to Bryn Mawr as Dean and professor of history. She served as Dean until 1941, and taught history until her retirement in 1957, having become head of the department.
She was a suffragette
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...
, and traveled the country, giving speeches in support of the vote for women and women's rights.
On July 15, 1920, she married Yale history professor Frederick Johnson Manning, who then moved to Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
. The Mannings had two daughters: Helen Taft Manning (born 1921) and Caroline Manning (born 1925). Manning died in 1987 at 95 of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.