Rhoda Root Wagner Richards

Background

Richards, Rhoda Root Wagner was born on October 2, 1917 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Daughter of Edward Stephen and Rhoda Earley (Root) Wagner.

Education

Student of University Pennsylvania, 1937-1939. Associate of Arts, Wildcliff Junior College, 1938.

Career

Maternal ancestors include Elihu root. Daughter PatriciaVirchaux Richards Cosgrave has two sons Michael Rowe Cosgrave Junior, whose wife is Allegra Churchill McHugh, and Matthew Richards Cosgrave.Son J. Permar Richards III is married to Nancy Norris Wrenn, and hastwo sons J. Permar IV and Todd Wagner. Professional artist; founder, chairman Hospital Corps, Navy League Service, 1941-1943.

Chairman American Red Cross Nurses Aide Corps, Jacksonville, Florida, 1944-1945, Long Beach, California, 1945-1946.

Founder, chairman Fiesta Benefits, Hahnemann Hospital, 1950-1957. Former chairman junior.com.

Metropolitan Opera. Board directors Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company.

Chairman Ring for Freedom Republican Campaign of Southeast Pennsylvania, 1960. President Emergency Aid of Pennsylvania, 1961-1964.

Vice president board directors Inglis House, Philadelphia, 1977-1982. President women"s board Philadelphia division American Cancer Society, 1978-1981, honorary life member.

General chairman 1st Annual Washington Crossing Assembly, 1978.

Trustee Baldwin School, 1970-1975. Company-chairman fundraising committee Ambulatory Service Pavilion, HospitalScheie Eye Institute, Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Vice chairman Women"sCommn. for Bicentennial, 1976.

Board directors, member Appleford Commission Parsons-Banks Arboretum.

Chairman women"s board Philadelphia division American Cancer Society, 1978-1981. Volunteer Philadelphia chapter Lupus Foundation, 1980-1981.

Member Delaware Valleywomen"s board Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Past vice president women"s association, past chairman finance committee, chairman centennial special event and general committee forthe 100 year celebration Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.

Honorary colonel corps of cadets Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College.

Founder, chairman Rittenhouse Preservation Coalition, 1982-1983. Founder, vice president, assistant treasurer Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, 1984. Member Hospitality, Phila.Style.

Chairman, Board Of Directors Emergency Aid of Pennsylvania Foundation, chairman 75th anniversary celebration, finance, long range planning, investment commission, Fairmount Park Waterworks Committee, Named co-chairman advisory board Preservation Alliance, 1997.

Achievements

• Rhoda Root Wagner Richards has been listed as a noteworthy civic worker by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member Delaware Valleywomen"s board Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Member Hospitality, Phila.Style. Member Philadelphia Museum Art, Pennsylvania Academy Fine Arts, Hahnemann Hospital Women"sAssn.

(Philadelphia chapter), Daughters of the American Revolution, Daus. of the Cincinnati, Dames of Loyal Legion, National Society Colonial Dames of XVII Centuary, Dames Sovereign Military Order Temple of Jerusalem, Honolulu Museum Art, Genealogical Society Pennsylvania, Am.Hist.

Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Smithsonian Institution, Friends of Independence Hall, Friends of History Cliveden, Andalusia Friends, Athenaeum Philadelphia. Clubs: Sedgeley, Cosmopolitan, Bald Peak Colony.

Connections

Married J. Permar Richards, Junior, May 18, 1940. Children: PatriciaA.V. Richards Cosgrave, J. Permar III. Paternal ancestors includeGeneral Thomas Proctor of General George Washington"s staff, and Samuel Houston.

Mother:

Rhoda Earley (Root) Wagner

Spouse:

J. Permar Richards

child:

and Samuel Houston Richards

child:

PatriciaA.V. Richards Cosgrave Richards