Daisy Polk

Daisy Polk (fl. 1917) 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 village of Vitrimont, France,^[2] with moneys 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,^[4] in September.^[5] Her husband had been in command of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. In 1915 he became commander of the Third Cavalry Corps, and a year later of the Second Army Corps.^[4][6] He retired in 1917.^[7] The wedding was attended by such notables as General Pétain.

In 1920, she was named a Legion Chevalier.^[8] In the 1930s, Comtesse de Buyer-Mimeuse, a well-known public figure,^[9] was active with the Catholic Sewing Circle in Passy.^[10]

References

1. ^ French, Janie Preston Collup (1918). Notable Southern Families, Vol. 1. Lookout. p. 179. http://books.google.com/books?id=iU4bAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA179. 
2. ^ "Frenchman Weds American: Miss Daisy Polk Was in Charge of Reconstructing Vitrimont". The Spokesman-Review. 20 September 1917. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uqhVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ruADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4491,1851616&dq=de-buyer+daisy-polk&hl=en. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
3. ^ McDonald, William (1922). Reconstruction in France. Macmillan. p. 283. http://books.google.com/books?id=_f4YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA283. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Miss Polk now a Countess: Her French Soldier Husband is Count de Buyer Mimeuse". The New York Times. 21 September 1917. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F70810FB3B5E11738DDDA80A94D1405B878DF1D3. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
5. ^ O'Shaughnessy, Edith (1918). My Lorraine Journal. Harper & Brothers. p. 162. http://books.google.com/books?id=EEMEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA162. 
6. ^ "Double Program at Insull Farm War Benefit Tomorrow". Chicago Daily Tribune. 21 September 1917. 
7. ^ "General, Wedded, is Now Retired". Los Angeles Times. 23 September 1917. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/339397212.html?dids=339397212:339397212&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+23%2C+1917&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=GENERAL%2C+WEDDED%2C+IS+NOW+RETIRED.&pqatl=google. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
8. ^ "California Girl, Wife of French General, is Legion Chevalier". Chicago Daily Tribune. 22 September 1920. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/369511582.html?dids=369511582:369511582&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+22%2C+1920&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=CALIFORNIA+GIRL%2C+WIFE+OF+FRENCH+GENERAL%2C+IS+LEGION+CHEVALIER&pqatl=google. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
9. ^ Birkhead, May (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". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B1EF63A5513738DDDAD0894DA415B828FF1D3. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
10. ^ Birkhead, May (17 December 1933). "Americans Attend Paris Sewing Circle; Comtesse de Bayer-Mimeare Entertains Society Women at Passy Chateau". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA091FFE3E5516738DDDAE0994DA415B838FF1D3. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Polk, Daisy
Alternative names
Short description	American Comtesse de Buyer-Mimuere
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Place of birth
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