Isabella Greenway: An Enterprising Woman

by Kristie Miller

She was at home on the western range and in New York salons. An energetic entrepreneur who managed a ranch, an airline, and a resort. A politician who became a key player in the New Deal. Isabella Greenway blazed a trail for remarkable women in Arizona politics today, from Janet Napolitano to Sandra Day O'Connor. Now Kristie Miller offers an intimate view of this extraordinary woman. Isabella Greenway's life was linked with both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her infancy was spent on a snow-swept ranch in North Dakota, where young TR was a neighbor and a friend. In her teens, she captivated Edith Wharton's New York as a glamorous debutante. A bridesmaid in the wedding of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Isabella was the bride of Robert Ferguson, a Scottish nobleman and one of TR's Rough Riders. They went west when he developed tuberculosis; after his death, she married his fellow Rough Rider, Arizona copper magnate John Greenway. In Tucson, the energetic Isabella ran an airline, worked with disabled veterans, and founded the world-famous Arizona Inn. When the Great Depression brought hard times, Eleanor Roosevelt recruited Isabella to work for the Democratic Party. Isabella played a decisive role in Franklin Roosevelt's nomination to the presidency in 1932; the New York Times called her "the most-talked-of woman at the National Democratic Convention." She was elected to Congress as Arizona's only US Representative, and again drew national media attention when she challenged FDR for not being sufficiently progressive. Miller's meticulous biography captures a life of adventure and romance, from southern tobacco country to the ballrooms of New York, from western ranches to the dome of the US Capitol. She shows national politics played out behind the scenes, Isabella's lifelong friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, and the drama of a loyal wife caring for a dying husband despite having fallen in love with a younger man. The book also shows Greenway's considerable influence on the development of Arizona's business and politics in the early decades of statehood.Although Isabella Greenway died in 1953, the Arizona Inn—a tribute to her enterprise—remains a premier resort hotel, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2005. This book, too, celebrates Isabella's energy, vision, indomitable spirit, and love of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

306 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

I am a philosophy professor at the University of Sydney. I am also joint director of the interdisciplinary Centre for Time. I work primarily in metaphysics, particularly on the nature of time and temporal experience, though I also have research on personal identity, persistence, composition, and explanation. I have published several books, including “An Introduction to the Philosophy of Time” (with Sam Baron) “Out of Time” (with Sam Baron and Jonathan Tallant) and “Everyday Metaphysical Explanation” (with James Norton) as well as plenty of articles.

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I first heard about Isabella Greenway when we stayed at the Arizona Inn. What a remarkable woman. While the author is clearly an admirer (and the account may be a bit one-sided), there is also a lot to admire in Isabella's life and accomplishments.

[Riah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was highly interested in this book, but felt that it dragged on for the first portion of the book to the point of tedium. I will say it was an easy read, but felt that facts were presented in a chronological fashion and lacked bearing or fluidity. An amazing woman, worthy of this title, and with values that rival 2009 politics and societal norms, despite living at the turn of the 20th century. If one is interested in strong female biographies, I would recommend this book. But beware of name dropping, and a long slow death for Isabella Greenway's first husband.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever thought that one person can’t make a difference, reading about the life of Isabella Greenway will change your mind. This remarkable woman, born in 1886, managed to accomplish more in her lifetime than most women born a hundred years later, in a time when women weren’t held back just for being women. Isabella didn’t let being female hold her back for one second. She covered the gamut from homesteading and being working ranch manager, to coming out as a debutante, to running an airline, to being an industrious and very successful politician, through being a doting wife (three times) and a mother. Her accomplishments are as broad as they are daunting.

Isabella’s very close friend, Eleanor Roosevelt, encouraged her to be active in the Democratic party. She worked hard campaigning for Franklin D Roosevelt for President, and ended up being elected to Congress herself, representing Arizona. Her legacy includes fighting for Social Security, funding for Route 66 and many road projects that put impoverished a Arizonans back to work, reviving Arizona’s dying copper industry, obtaining disability benefits for veterans, and helping families with mortgage relief. She also built the famous Arizona Inn, which is furnished largely from furniture build by veterans in one of her creating-jobs projects.

Just reading about everything this amazing woman accomplished was exhausting. Her energy level was totally off-the-charts. I learned much about politics in the 1930s through the late 40s, and realized that it’s people getting involved that makes the difference. This book can get bogged down in historical detail, but there’s enough included about Isabella’s personal life to keep it from being dry. An interesting read.

[Debra Kidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend who winters in Green Valley, AZ (near Tucson) loaned me this book about a truly amazing woman from the turn of the century who does EVERYTHING. She is raised with privilege yet grows up both in the South and on a ranch in North Dakota. Her family is friends with Theodore Roosevelt, who has a nearby ranch, which leads her to eventually becoming lifelong friends with Franklin and Eleanor. She homesteads on a mountain top in New Mexico, raising two small children and caring for her husband with TB. She gets into politics, eventually being elected the single representative in DC for the state of Arizona. Greenway builds the Arizona Inn in Tucson, still run by her family today, marries three times, manages children, grandchildren and various properties and charms everyone who meets her. If she were entering politics in this era, she would undoubtedly become President. A great read for Women’s History Month.

[Bernard Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Kristie Miller's historical novel about Isabella Greenway. I recently moved to Arizona, and this account of one of its early political pioneers was delightful. Isabella Greenway made a name for herself by overcoming tremendous odds to excel as a homesteader, wife, mother, farmer, rancher, teacher, and Arizona State Representative.

Isabella was born in 1886, the only child of Tilden Selmes (an attorney) and Martha (Patty) Flandrau. Her good fortune included her parent's association with Theodore Roosevelt and members of his family. In spite of her connections, Isabella and her mother endured many hardships living in the rugged, western states. The triumph of their hard work, and Isabella's unwavering spirit, make this book a "must read."

[Joeann Fossland · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing woman Isabella Greenway was. I knew of her since I live in Tucson, but was unaware of her life and accomplishments! I was particularly impressed with her career in politics in the 30’s. The copious footnotes show a depth of research. I would have enjoyed more narrative and less quoting, but Miller brought her to life and I learned much. Definitely a book I would recommend, particularly as a reminder that determined women have been breaking the rules for a long,long time.

[Tom Frankman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabella Greenway led a fascinating life, and Miller allows her experiences to tell the story. Teddy Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and plenty of others come and go through Greenway's life. None of them linger, as some other cause or person beckons. I picked this up in the guest shop of the Arizona Inn, the resort she founded in the 1930s. For any "ex-pat" southern Arizonans like me, this is an interesting chronicle of our home's earlier days.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

This amazing woman lived over the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. A friend of Teddy Roosevelt, then Eleanor Roosevelt, she was raised in a prominent family, but retired with an ailing husband to an isolated Western ranch and was widowed young. A survivor, she struggled to earn money in business, and became a precedent breaking woman politician and office holder.

[Kathie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

Isabella was a very strong influential women. I learned a lot about Arizona history reading this book. She survived 2 husbands and the great depression.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent review, fascinating lady and times.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating biography about a true entrepreneur business woman. She had very advanced ideas and implemented them. I recommend this book especially for Arizona residents.

[Deb Zich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Isabella Greenway led an amazing life.

[Robert H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work with Kristie Miller, so this review is surely tainted at some level. But the book is gracefully written - and Isabella Greenway's story (replete with a move from NYC to the frontier, three marriages, a huge inheritance, election to Congress, friendships with Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR) is captivating.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the first 1/2 of this book very tedious but FINALLY Bob Ferguson died and life became much more interesting. Interesting to see how the political reactions to the depression and WWII parallel the current situation.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read about a strong woman. Interesting since the story occurs where I live. Seemed like a bit much at times and the racial prejudices alive and well. Maybe it's because its just like real life!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not usually read books on politicians, but because she was an Arizona figure I had to give it a try. I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did if she would have been from any other state. She was a very fascinating woman though.

[Alexandra Arboleda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed learning about this important woman in Arizona's history. Like many people who achieve greatness in their lifetimes, she endured many challenges and faced them with great courage.

[NancyS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The political sections dragged on with a lot of insignificant people and events. Enjoyed the rest.