Grace Shaw Duff
ARTICLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ARTICLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Grace Shaw Duff was an American Theosophist and philanthropist who was heavily involved in work in the early days of Krotona Institute of Theosophy and the Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross.
Personal life
Grace Anna Shaw was born in 1846, in Ohio, to Henry Wheeler Shaw and Zilpha (or Zipporah) Bradford Shaw.[1] Her father (1818-1885) was quite famous as humorist "Josh Billings," second only to his contemporary Mark Twain. Most of the newspaper articles ever written about Grace mention her father, who toured the United States reciting stories from his popular books. The family lived in Massachusetts and then New York, as Henry worked through an assortment of jobs until he found his voice as a folksy writer in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1858.
She married William Hilduth Duff (1843-1909), a New York stock broker in the late 1860s.[2][3] They lived in Manhattan. Their only (surviving) son Bradford Ferris Duff tragically died at the age of 25 on September 6, 1893.[4] Grace wrote several poems that were published in The Arena (magazine) and newspapers. "Nicodemus" and "Two Beasts" drew considerable attention.[5][6] Her story "The Story of Major C. and His Relatives" was a study of musical harmony rendered as a fairy tale. [7]
William died on March 19, 1909 in Augusta Georgia. Grace moved her household to the suburb of New Rochelle.
In 1910-12, Mrs. Duff engaged in a project to honor the men in her life. She donated $30,000 to build a hospital that was named Wilhenford, for William, Henry, Bradford.
She died on May 21, 1923.
Involvement with Theosophical Society
Mrs. Duff was admitted to the American Theosophical Society on November 12, 1901 at the Central Lodge in New York City. She was sponsored by Minnie C. Holbrook and Florence A. Taylor.[8] She remained a member of Central Lodge until the end of her life, even after she moved to Hollywood in December 1915 to be near the Krotona Institute of Theosophy.[9] Being wealthy, she probably continued to maintain a household in New York, and spent time in Paris, as well.
Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
Notes
- ↑ 1865 New York State Census.
- ↑ 1880 United States Census.
- ↑ 1887 passport application. U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925.
- ↑ Duff obituary. New York Evening Post (September 8, 1893): 5.
- ↑ Anonymous, "Literary Notes" St. Albans Daily Messenger (June 17, 1895: 2.
- ↑ Grace Shaw Duff, "Nicodemus" Charleston News and Courier (December 29, 1895): 12.
- ↑ Anonymous, "The Story of Major C. and His Relatives" review. New York Herald 63 (March 4, 1894): 14.
- ↑ Membership Ledger Cards roll 2. Theosophical Society in America Archives.
- ↑ "Deaths" The Messenger 11 no.3 (August, 1923): 60.