Mary Thorpe Graham

Mary Thorpe Graham, Meadville's 'grande dame' of music, who perhaps more than any other single individual influenced the lived of thousands of Meadville residents, died Friday, November 9, 1962, at City Hospital.

As a teacher, and for many years director, at the Pennsylvania College of Music, she played a large role in the cultural development of the city.

Although her teaching career spanned more than seven decades, she never lost her enthusiasm for instilling a love of music along with a sound technique among her myriad students.  Music was her life.  She lived it, loved it and shared it.  Her teaching was profound inspiration to her proteges.

A pianist of perfection, Miss Graham's entire career, from early days at Allegheny College until last year, was devoted solely to the teaching of the piano except for some 20 years when she also was choir director at First Presbyterian Church.

A native of Ridgewood, NJ, Miss Graham came to Meadville with her parents, Richard and Julia Thorpe Graham, when a young girl.  She graduated from Meadville High School at the age of 16 and immediately began to teach music to the young people of the community.

Not all of Miss Graham's energy was devoted to music.  Many of her young students, especially girls, found that she was ever willing to counsel them on personal matters which the girls often found difficult to confide in their parents.

Born April 13, 1872, Miss Graham made her home with Mr. and Mrs. George S. Davenport, of Meadville, for the past 52 years.  For the first 13 years, she and her father made their home with the Davenports on Diamond Park after the death of Mrs. Graham.

Miss Graham was active in her profession until last December when she suffered a fall and was hospitalized several weeks.  She returned home where she remained bedridden until she again fell and fractured a leg on October 23.

There are no survivors.