Caro Dana Dawes (née Blymyer; January 6, 1865 – October 3, 1957) was the wife of

Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

Charles G. Dawes, and thus

second lady of the United States The second lady of the United States or second gentleman (SLOTUS or SGOTUS) is the informal title held by the spouse of the vice president of the United States, concurrent with the vice president's term of office. Coined in contrast to " first la ...

from 1925 to 1929, during the

Presidency of Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge's tenure as the 30th president of the United States began on August 2, 1923, when Coolidge became president upon Warren G. Harding, Warren G. Harding's death, and ended on March 4, 1929. A Republican Party (United States), Republi ...

. She was also a philanthropist, and worked with

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community or treatment centre), or private home of a state- certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent", or with a family mem ...

and

adoption Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, fro ...

organizations in Illinois.

Early and private life

Dawes was born Caro Blymyer in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

in 1865. Caro Blymyer married Charles Dawes on January 24, 1889. They had two biological children in 1890 and 1892 and adopted two more in 1912 and 1914. After the death of their son Rufus in 1912, the Daweses retreated from social life and instead devoted much of their energies to charity work.

Career

During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Dawes was involved in efforts to provide clothing to the 17th regiment of the Army Corps of Engineers, leading one newspaper to refer to her as "Mother of the Regiment.". In 1907, Dawes was elected vice president of the board of directors of the Illinois Children's Home and Aid Society (ICAHS), a network of foster homes for children in Illinois. In 1909, she became assistant treasurer of the organization, a position which she held for twenty years. In 1915, Dawes co-founded the Evanston Cradle, which coordinated adoptions of orphaned children. While serving as Second Lady, Dawes disappointed some of the social elite of

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

because she declined many social invitations. According to a 1928 report in the ''Morning Free Press'', Nonetheless, it was observed that her "manner was sweet and gentle, her conversation cultured, and her dignity unimpeachable."

Death

Dawes died in Evanston, Illinois on October 3, 1957, at the age of 92. She was buried with her husband in

Rosehill Cemetery Rosehill Cemetery (founded 1859) is a historic rural cemetery on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. At , it is the largest cemetery in the city of Chicago and its first private cemetery. The Entrance Gate and Administration ...

Notes

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Dawes, Caro 1866 births 1957 deaths Burials at Rosehill Cemetery People from Cincinnati Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States Dawes family Philanthropists from Illinois People from Evanston, Illinois Spouses of American politicians