Caroline Harrison

Caroline Harrison was a music teacher who became a Civil War activist while her husband Ben fought for the Union. After the war and Benjamin Harrison's ascent through politics to become president, Caroline dedicated herself to charitable work, like the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) that she founded and her work raising funds for Johns Hopkins University, on the condition that it begin admitting women. In the White House Caroline oversaw extensive renovations, including the introduction of electricity, and conducted china-painting classes for women to satisfy her artistic urges.