E. Rosevelt

I didn't find it at all surprising. My gramma (same age) used to be able to read, rock the baby, and knit at the same time. I'd probably have been more surprised if she didn't do *something*. Nearly every upper class woman did some sort of handwork (embroidery, knitting, sewing, knotting, etc). Knitting has the added advantage of providing something *useful* upon its completion.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

:drily: Eleanor could really be considered our first female prez. Noreen

Eleanor Roosevelt was certainly into being "useful" . That would have appealed to her. I can see her talking to ordinary women of the time about their crafts - as a means to reach out to them and reduce the perceived distance between them. I also enjoyed the PBS special - I had read most of the information over the years but it was well presented and the personal touches through the interviews helped give a new perspective to the familiar.

One of my fondest memories is of the day back when I was a college student when I was selected as one of two students to serve as hosts to Eleanor Roosevelt. She was speaking at the conference of the National Students Association. She was showing her age by then but her eyes sparkled and she would listen with great attention when you spoke to her and didn't in the least act like she thought herself to be some very important person. She wasn't a physically attractive person but had great charisma - it is hard to explain why she had such a presence, but she did. I think she blossomed in the years after her husband died

- of course, I don't really remember the time before that - having only learned of her earlier life by reading . (Hearing the news of his death is one of my earliest memories of things beyond my family life.) I did hear her speak one additional time - to the women students of my university.

Troo.

Higs, Katherine

Aaron, Eleanor was that kind of a person, down to earth, inteligent, and involved. I great woman.

Els