Florence Jaffray Harriman

Florence Jaffray Harriman
8th United States Minister to Norway
In office
July 1, 1937 – April 22, 1940
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byAnthony Drexel Biddle
Succeeded byAnthony Drexel Biddle
Personal details
Born
Florence Jaffray Hurst

(1870-07-21)July 21, 1870
New York City, New York
DiedAugust 31, 1967(1967-08-31) (aged 97)
Georgetown, D.C.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
(m. 1889; died 1914)
ChildrenEthel Harriman
ProfessionSuffragist
Social reformer
Diplomat

Florence Jaffray "Daisy" Harriman (July 21, 1870 – August 31, 1967) was an American socialite, suffragist, social reformer, organizer, and diplomat.[1] "She led one of the suffrage parades down Fifth Avenue, worked on campaigns on child labor and safe milk and, as minister to Norway in World War II, organized evacuation efforts while hiding in a forest from the Nazi invasion."[2] In her ninety-second year, U.S. President John F. Kennedy honored her by awarding her the first "Citation of Merit for Distinguished Service."[3] She often found herself in the middle of historic events. As she stated, "I think nobody can deny that I have always had through sheer luck a box seat at the America of my times."[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference obit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Christopher Gray, "New York Streetscapes: Former Colony Club at 120 Madison Avenue," The New York Times, 2003-09-28.
  3. ^ John F. Kennedy, "Remarks Upon Presenting a Presidential Citation of Merit to Mrs. Florence Harriman," April 19, 1963, reprinted at "The American Presidency Project" website, last accessed 2010-07-31.
  4. ^ "Crusader for Rights; Florence Jaffray Harriman," The New York Times, 1963-04-19.