Caroline Harrison

Caroline Lavinia Harrison (née Scott) was born on October 1, 1832, in Oxford, Ohio. Her parents, Mary Potts Neal and John Witherspoon Scott, were both involved in education and activism; her mother was a teacher at a girls' school, and her father was a Presbyterian minister and professor at Miami University. The family was active in abolitionist activities and participated in the Underground Railroad. Her great-grandfather was the founder of the first Presbyterian church in the United States and the College of New Jersey, which was later renamed Princeton University.

Caroline had two sisters and two brothers. Following a dispute over abolitionist beliefs, her father left Miami University, prompting the family to relocate to Cincinnati, Ohio. Her parents supported women's education and ensured Caroline received a comprehensive education. She attended a girls' school founded by her father and later enrolled at Farmer's College in Cincinnati, where her father taught science and mathematics.

While at Farmer's College, Caroline began a courtship with Benjamin Harrison, a student at the institution. Their relationship was kept secret initially; they met for carriage and sleigh rides and attended dancing parties covertly. When Caroline's father became the first president of the Oxford Female Institute, the family moved to Oxford, and Benjamin transferred to Miami University to stay close to Caroline. Caroline also taught art and music part-time at the institute.

Caroline Scott and Benjamin Harrison were engaged in 1852 and married on October 20, 1853, with her father presiding. After marriage, they resided at the Harrison family home in North Bend, Ohio until Benjamin was admitted to the bar in 1854, after which they moved to Indianapolis. Their early years were marked by financial difficulties; the Harrison family’s wealth had been diluted over generations. Caroline managed household responsibilities and supported her husband's legal and political pursuits.

The couple had three children, two of whom survived to adulthood: Russell Benjamin Harrison (born August 12, 1854) and Mary Scott Harrison (born April 3, 1858). A third child was stillborn in 1861. During this period, Caroline engaged in hobbies such as china painting and music, and she established an art studio to teach ceramics and other arts. She was active in her church and community organizations, including the Indianapolis Orphans' Asylum, where she served on the board of managers from 1860 until her death, and the Indianapolis Woman's Club, where she served as president. She also contributed to charitable organizations such as the Indianapolis Benevolent Society and the Home for Friendless Women.

During the Civil War, Caroline participated in volunteer efforts supporting soldiers, joining groups like the Ladies Patriotic Association and the Ladies Sanitary Committee. She tended to wounded soldiers and supported her husband's political career, which included his unsuccessful bid for Indiana governor in 1876 and his election to the U.S. Senate in 1880. Following her husband's election to the Senate, Caroline moved to Washington, D.C., where she advised him and helped with his campaigns.

In 1888, Benjamin Harrison was nominated as the Republican candidate for president, and Caroline served as a hostess during the campaign, hosting events at their home as part of the front porch campaign style. She was involved in political campaigning and became a public figure herself, contrasting with incumbent First Lady Frances Cleveland. Benjamin Harrison was elected president, and Caroline was sworn in as First Lady on March 4, 1889. As First Lady, she managed a large household, which included her children, their families, her father, her sister Elizabeth, and her sister's daughter.

Her role as First Lady was characterized by a focus on domestic duties and charitable work. She maintained her artistic pursuits, mailing ceramic milk sets to families who named their children after the president, and arranged publicity photos of her grandson, known as "Baby McKee." She also implemented reforms such as abolishing handshaking lines at receptions and restoring dancing in the White House. In 1889, she accepted a seaside cottage from John Wanamaker, which sparked political controversy over possible bribery. Caroline Harrison held progressive views on women's rights and was involved in efforts to preserve White House furnishings and oversee renovations, including the addition of electricity, although the family chose not to use it initially.

Caroline Lavinia Harrison died on October 25, 1892, while still serving as First Lady.