Polly Whittier

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full namePauline "Polly"•Whittier (-Iselin)
Used namePolly•Whittier
Born9 December 1876 in Boston, Massachusetts (USA)
Died3 March 1946 in New York, New York (USA)
AffiliationsSt. Moritz Golf Club (SUI)
NOC Switzerland
Nationality United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Polly Whittier was a member of the Whittier family via her father, a Union Army officer in the US Civil war. The well-known poet John Greenleaf Whittier was also a member.

At 10 she moved to New York but shortly thereafter was sent to Europe, where she was educated. At the time of the 1900 Olympic golf event, she was a US citizen but was living in Switzerland and playing her golf at the St. Moritz Golf Club. She spent her summer, however, at the Deauville home of her sister and brother-in-law, the Russian IOC Member, Sergey, Prince Beloselsky-Belotsersky. Her score of 49 in the Olympics trailed only Margaret Abbott.

Returning to America, Polly Whittier was married in 1904 to Ernest Iselin, who sat on the board of many different companies. Always interested in philanthropy, his wealth enabled Mrs. Iselin to establish in 1933 the Generosity Thrift Shop, which sold various gifts to aid many needy organizations, including the City Hospital, the Children’s Aid Society, the Harlem Hospital and the Manhattan Girl Scouts.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1900 Summer Olympics Golf SUI USA Polly Whittier
Individual, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver

Olympic family relations