Joanna Sturm is an American philanthropist and historian best known as the great-granddaughter of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the granddaughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. She was born on July 9, 1946, and is the daughter of Paulina Longworth Sturm and Alexander McCormick Sturm.
Sturm became closely connected to American history through her grandmother, Alice Roosevelt Longworth. After her mother’s death in 1957, Alice raised her, and Sturm remained close to her grandmother for decades. She later helped preserve Alice’s historical legacy by donating her papers to the Library of Congress and photographs from Alice’s 1905 Asian diplomatic journey to the Smithsonian.
In 2021, Sturm also made a major contribution to conservation when her donation helped Northern Arizona University acquire the historic Hat Ranch in Arizona.
Who is Joanna Sturm?
Joanna Sturm is an American philanthropist and historian who was born on July 9, 1946. She is the great-granddaughter of President Theodore Roosevelt and the granddaughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
Her full name is Joanna Mercedes Alessandra Sturm. Her mother was Paulina Longworth Sturm, the daughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Her father was Alexander McCormick Sturm, who co-founded the firearms company Sturm, Ruger & Co. with William B. Ruger.
Sturm became an important member of the Roosevelt family’s later generations because of her close relationship with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and her role in preserving Alice’s papers, photographs and memories.
How is Joanna Sturm Related to Theodore Roosevelt?
Joanna Sturm is Theodore Roosevelt’s great-granddaughter.
The family relationship is:
Theodore Roosevelt → Alice Roosevelt Longworth → Paulina Longworth Sturm → Joanna Sturm
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and served from 1901 to 1909. His daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth became a prominent Washington figure in her own right.
Alice’s daughter was Paulina Longworth, who married Alexander McCormick Sturm. Their daughter, Joanna Sturm, was born in 1946.
The Library of Congress and other historical institutions document Joanna Sturm’s connection to Alice Roosevelt Longworth through their archival collections.
Who Were Joanna Sturm’s Parents?
Joanna Sturm’s parents were Paulina Longworth Sturm and Alexander McCormick Sturm.
Paulina Longworth was the daughter of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. She married Alexander McCormick Sturm in 1944.
Alexander McCormick Sturm was a businessman and artist who co-founded Sturm, Ruger & Co. with William B. Ruger. Sturm died in 1951 at the age of 28 after suffering from viral hepatitis.
Paulina died in 1957. After her mother’s death, Joanna was raised by her grandmother, Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
Who Raised Joanna Sturm?
Alice Roosevelt Longworth raised Joanna Sturm after the death of Joanna’s mother, Paulina, in 1957.
Joanna was 10 years old when her mother died. Alice subsequently became her primary caregiver, and Joanna lived with her grandmother for approximately 25 years.
The relationship gave Joanna an unusually close connection to one of the most recognizable figures of the Roosevelt family. CBS News reported in 2024 that Sturm remained with Alice for 25 years and accompanied her during interviews conducted in 1969 and 1974.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth died in Washington, D.C., in 1980.
What is Joanna Sturm Known For?
Joanna Sturm is known for preserving and donating historical materials belonging to her grandmother, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, and for supporting conservation through philanthropy.
Her best-documented contributions include:
- Donating Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s papers to the Library of Congress in 1975.
- Donating photographs from Alice Roosevelt’s 1905 trip to Asia to the Smithsonian in 2009.
- Supporting the preservation of Hat Ranch in Arizona through a major donation to Northern Arizona University in 2021.
These contributions have placed materials from the Roosevelt family in major American research and cultural institutions.
What Did Joanna Sturm Give to the Library of Congress?
Joanna Sturm gave the Alice Roosevelt Longworth Papers to the Library of Congress in 1975.
The collection contains material relating to Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s life and work, including correspondence, diaries, writings, speeches and other papers.
The Library of Congress specifically identifies the collection’s provenance, stating that the papers were given to the institution by Alice’s granddaughter, Joanna Sturm, in 1975.
The collection provides researchers with primary-source material about Alice Roosevelt Longworth, her family and the political and social circles in which she operated.
Did Joanna Sturm Donate Alice Roosevelt’s Photographs to the Smithsonian?
Yes. Joanna Sturm donated Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s collection of photographs from the 1905 Taft Mission to Asia to the Smithsonian in 2009.
The collection is held by the National Museum of Asian Art Archives. It includes photographs and photographic albums connected to Alice Roosevelt’s journey through Asia.
The Smithsonian states that the photographs were donated by Joanna Sturm, Alice’s granddaughter, in 2009. The collection includes images associated with the official photographer of the mission, Burr McIntosh, as well as portraits presented to Alice by the imperial courts of Japan, China and Korea.
The material documents Alice’s 1905 journey, which formed part of the Taft diplomatic mission to Asia.
Did Joanna Sturm Appear with Alice Roosevelt Longworth at the White House?
Yes. Joanna Sturm appeared publicly with Alice Roosevelt Longworth at the 1971 wedding of Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox.
A Library of Congress photograph dated June 12, 1971, identifies Mrs. Nicholas Longworth and Miss Joanna Sturm being escorted by a White House social aide while arriving at the East Gate of the White House for the wedding.
The photograph provides a documented example of Sturm accompanying her grandmother at a major Washington political and social event.
What Was Joanna Sturm’s Relationship with Alice Roosevelt Longworth?
Joanna Sturm was Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s only grandchild and lived with her grandmother after her mother’s death.
Their relationship extended beyond the family home. Sturm was present for interviews with Alice and helped preserve her grandmother’s historical materials.
CBS News reported in 2024 that Sturm was with Alice during her 1969 and 1974 interviews with 60 Minutes.
Sturm’s role as Alice’s granddaughter also gave her possession of historical family materials that were later transferred to institutions including the Library of Congress and Smithsonian.
What Did Joanna Sturm Do for Hat Ranch?
Joanna Sturm made a donation that enabled Northern Arizona University to acquire the historic Hat Ranch in Arizona in April 2021.
The 300-acre ranch is located near Williams, Arizona, and has historical and ecological significance. Northern Arizona University now manages the property with an emphasis on education, conservation and research.
NAU’s 2025 account of the property states that the university became the owner of Hat Ranch in April 2021 through a donation from Joanna Sturm. The ranch is being used to continue its educational and conservation legacy.
The Joanna Sturm Conservation Fund was also established in connection with the ranch’s preservation and educational mission.
Why Did Joanna Sturm Support Hat Ranch?
Joanna Sturm supported the preservation of Hat Ranch as a site for education and conservation.
Northern Arizona University describes the ranch as a place with historical and ecological significance. Under university ownership, the property is being used for educational activities and conservation-focused work connected to the Colorado Plateau.
The donation represents one of Sturm’s most significant documented philanthropic contributions outside Roosevelt family archival preservation.
How Old is Joanna Sturm?
Joanna Sturm was born on July 9, 1946.
She is 80 years old as of August 31, 2026.
Her birth year and date are consistently identified in biographical records describing her as the daughter of Paulina Longworth Sturm and Alexander McCormick Sturm.
What is Joanna Sturm’s Full Name?
Joanna Sturm’s full name is Joanna Mercedes Alessandra Sturm.
She is also identified simply as Joanna Sturm in Library of Congress, Smithsonian and Northern Arizona University records.
Is Joanna Sturm Still Alive?
Yes. Joanna Sturm is alive as of 2026. Her recent documented philanthropic connection is the continued preservation of Hat Ranch through Northern Arizona University, which acquired the property following her donation in 2021.
What is Joanna Sturm’s Net Worth?
No verified figure for Joanna Sturm’s net worth has been established in the sources documenting her life and philanthropic work.
Her documented financial activities include philanthropic donations, including the contribution that enabled Northern Arizona University to acquire Hat Ranch. A specific personal net-worth figure cannot be established from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian or Northern Arizona University records.
Is Joanna Sturm on Social Media?
There is no verified official social-media account for Joanna Sturm identified by the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, Northern Arizona University or other major institutions documenting her work.
Her documented public profile is primarily connected to historical archives, philanthropy and the Roosevelt family.
What is Joanna Sturm’s Connection to Alice Roosevelt Longworth?
Joanna Sturm was Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s granddaughter and only grandchild.
Alice raised Joanna after Paulina Longworth Sturm died in 1957. Joanna subsequently helped preserve Alice’s legacy by donating her papers to the Library of Congress and her photographs from the 1905 Taft Mission to Asia to the Smithsonian.
The Library of Congress received Alice’s papers from Joanna in 1975, while the Smithsonian received the Asian photographs from her in 2009.
Joanna Sturm: Key Facts
| Fact | Details |
| Full name | Joanna Mercedes Alessandra Sturm |
| Born | July 9, 1946 |
| Age | 80 in 2026 |
| Grandfather | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Grandmother | Alice Roosevelt Longworth |
| Mother | Paulina Longworth Sturm |
| Father | Alexander McCormick Sturm |
| Known for | Philanthropy and historical preservation |
| Library of Congress donation | Alice Roosevelt Longworth Papers, 1975 |
| Smithsonian donation | Alice Roosevelt’s 1905 Asia photographs, 2009 |
| Major philanthropic contribution | Hat Ranch, Arizona |
| Hat Ranch acquisition | Northern Arizona University, 2021 |
The Legacy of Joanna Sturm
Joanna Sturm’s place in American history comes through both her family and her own actions.
She inherited a direct connection to Theodore Roosevelt through Alice Roosevelt Longworth, but her significance extends beyond genealogy. Sturm preserved documents and photographs that now form part of major institutional collections.
Her 1975 donation of Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s papers to the Library of Congress placed a substantial collection of family and historical documents in a national archive. Her 2009 donation of Alice’s photographs from the 1905 Asian mission placed another important part of the family’s history within the Smithsonian collections.
Her philanthropy later moved into conservation. Through her donation, Northern Arizona University acquired Hat Ranch in 2021 and continued its use for education and conservation.
Joanna Sturm therefore represents a less visible side of the Roosevelt legacy: preserving historical records, protecting significant places and making privately held family history accessible to public institutions.
