Daisy Polk Explained

Daisy Polk (April 23, 1874 in St. Louis, Missouri – January 22, 1963 in Paris, France) was an American woman who became Comtesse de Buyer-Mimeure after marrying French Army General Marie Joseph Louis Robert de Buyer.

Polk was a prominent woman from San Francisco (she was the sister of architect Willis Polk and related to President Polk[1]). Active in the American relief effort during World War I, she was assigned the reconstruction of the French village of Vitrimont,[2] with monies supplied by Mrs. Crocker of San Francisco; Vitrimont was the first of a number of villages restored with American aid.[3] She and de Buyer met by chance in Vitrimont in 1916: when her car broke down, de Buyer offered his assistance; a year later they were married, in September.[4] 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).[5] [6] He retired in 1917.[7] The wedding was attended by such notables as General Pétain.

In 1920, Polk was named a Legion Chevalier.,[8] [9]

In the 1930s, Comtesse de Buyer-Mimeure, a well-known public figure,[10] was active with the Catholic Sewing Circle in Passy.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Book: French, Janie Preston Collup. Notable Southern Families, Vol. 1. 1918. Lookout. 179.
  2. News: Frenchman Weds American: Miss Daisy Polk Was in Charge of Reconstructing Vitrimont. 20 March 2011. The Spokesman-Review. 20 September 1917.
  3. Book: McDonald, William. Reconstruction in France. 1922. Macmillan. 283.
  4. Book: O'Shaughnessy, Edith. My Lorraine Journal. 1918. Harper & Brothers. 162.
  5. News: Miss Polk now a Countess: Her French Soldier Husband is Count de Buyer Mimeuse. 20 March 2011. The New York Times. 21 September 1917.
  6. News: Double Program at Insull Farm War Benefit Tomorrow. Chicago Daily Tribune. 21 September 1917.
  7. News: General, Wedded, is Now Retired. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106033136/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/339397212.html?dids=339397212:339397212&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+23,+1917&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=GENERAL,+WEDDED,+IS+NOW+RETIRED.&pqatl=google. dead. November 6, 2012. 20 March 2011. Los Angeles Times. 23 September 1917.
  8. News: California Girl, Wife of French General, is Legion Chevalier. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106033122/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/369511582.html?dids=369511582:369511582&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+22,+1920&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=CALIFORNIA+GIRL,+WIFE+OF+FRENCH+GENERAL,+IS+LEGION+CHEVALIER&pqatl=google. dead. November 6, 2012. 20 March 2011. Chicago Daily Tribune. 22 September 1920.
  9. Web site: Recherche - Base de données Léonore.
  10. News: Birkhead . May . May Birkhead . 4 December 1932 . Americans Attend a Service in Paris; Annual Thanksgiving Ceremony at Church of Madeleine an Impressive Event. Exhibitions are Feature; Aeronautic and Marine Salons Lend Added Interest to the Capital -- Society Sees La Argentina . 20 March 2011 . The New York Times.
  11. News: Birkhead . May . May Birkhead . 17 December 1933 . Americans Attend Paris Sewing Circle; Comtesse de Bayer-Mimeare Entertains Society Women at Passy Chateau . 20 March 2011 . The New York Times.

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