Ruth Elizabeth Harkness was an American fashion designer and socialite . She traveled to China in 1936 and brought back the first live giant panda to the United States . Ruth Elizabeth Harkness ( 21 September 1900 -- 20 July 1947 ) was an American fashion designer and socialite , who traveled to China in 1936 and brought back the first live giant panda to the United States - not in a cage , or on a leash , but wrapped in her arms .