Career
Polk was a prominent woman from San Francisco (she was the sister of architect Willis Polk and related to President Polk). Active in the American relief effort during World War I, she was assigned the reconstruction of the French village of Vitrimont, with monies supplied by Mistress Crocker of San Francisco.
Vitrimont was the first of a number of villages restored with American aid.
Her husband had been in command of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. In 1915 he became commander of the Third Cavalry Corps (France), and a year later of the Second Army Corps (France).
He retired in 1917. The wedding was attended by such notables as General Pétain.
In 1920, Polk was named a Legion Chevalier.,
In the 1930s, Comtesse de Buyer-Mimeuse, a well-known public figure, was active with the Catholic Sewing Circle in Passy.
