Cornelia Cole
| Cornelia Fairbanks | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Second Lady of the United States | |
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In role March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 |
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| President | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Edith Roosevelt (1901) |
| Succeeded by | Carrie Sherman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 14, 1852 Marysville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 24, 1913 (aged 61) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Charles Fairbanks (1874–1913) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Ohio Wesleyan University |
Cornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks (January 14, 1852 – October 24, 1913) was the wife of Charles W. Fairbanks, who served as the 26th Vice President of the United States from 1905 to 1909. During her husband's tenure she held the unofficial position of the Second Lady of the United States. She was at the forefront of the women's suffrage movement and considered a pathfinder to politics for American women in the 20th and 21st centuries.
She was born in 1852 in Marysville, Ohio, the daughter of Ohio State Senator Philander Cole and Dorothy Witter. She attended the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, where she graduated with an A.B. in 1872.
In 1874 she married Charles Fairbanks, whom she had met at Ohio Wesleyan while working for the school paper. They had four sons and one daughter: Robert Fairbanks (who attended Yale), Richard M. Fairbanks (who attended Yale and served as a captain in World War I), Adelaide Fairbanks (who married Horace Allen, a doctor), Warren Charles Fairbanks, and Frederick Cole Fairbanks.
Cornelia and Charles moved to Indiana where he began practicing law, and she read with him and assisted in his practice, eventually encouraging him to enter politics.
She was one of the founders of the all-women's Fortnightly Literary Club in Indianapolis, serving as its first president between 1885 and 1888. She also served on the State Board of Charities during this period.
With her husband serving as a U.S. Senator beginning in 1897, the couple came to Washington, D.C.. In 1899 she hosted a trip for the British and American Joint High Commission to Alaska.Fairbanks, Alaska was named in honor of her husband shortly thereafter.
Cornelia was elected President General of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1901, and she served two terms in that capacity. During her tenure she helped raise funds to construct the society's Memorial Continental Hall in Washington. In 1907 her chapter of DAR was organized, with 28 charter members. She was also active with the George Junior Republic movement.
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