Mount Auburn Biographies
Examine our archive of biographical sketches to learn more about some of those remembered at Mount Auburn who helped to shape our community.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Note: this list is alphabetized by first name
- Adina E. White (1861? – 1930)Artist, Businesswoman, and Local Philanthropist Continue reading
- Amos Binney (1803 – 1847)Physician and Naturalist Continue reading
- Amy Lowell (1874 – 1925)Poet, Pulitzer Prize Winner Continue reading
- Anne Revere (1903-1990)Actress, Oscar Winner Continue reading
- Anne Whitney (1821-1915)Poet and Sculptor Continue reading
- Arthur Foote (1853-1937)Composer Continue reading
- Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1917-2007)Historian and Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner Continue reading
- Asa Gray (1810-1888)Botanist Continue reading
- Asher Benjamin (1773-1845)Architect Continue reading
- B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)Behavioral Psychologist Continue reading
- Benjamin C. Thompson (1918 – 2002)Architect Continue reading
- Benjamin Franklin Roberts (1814 – 1887)Publisher, Editor, and Abolitionist Continue reading
- Bernard Malamud (1914-1986)Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner Continue reading
- Caroline Keller Loughlin (1940 – 2013)Landscape Historian, Mount Auburn Cemetery Trustee Continue reading
- Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844)Architect Continue reading
- Charles Dana Gibson (1867-1944)Illustrator and Creator of the “Gibson Girl” Continue reading
- Charles Eliot (1859-1897)Chemist and Harvard President Continue reading
- Charles Mason Hovey (1810 – 1887)Horticulturist Continue reading
- Charles Russell Lowell (1835-1864)Civil War Colonel Continue reading
- Charles Sumner (1811-1874)US Senator and Abolitionist Continue reading
- Charlotte Cushman (1816-1876)Actor Continue reading
- Clara Endicott Sears (1863-1960)Preservationist, Historian, and Author Continue reading
- Clement Morgan (1859 – 1929)Lawyer, Local Politician, and Founder of the NAACP Continue reading
- Commemorating Simon AntranighianMemorializing local heritage: creating a monument for Mount Auburn’s first Armenian resident Mount Auburn is working with a group of Armenian history and culture … Continue reading
- Curt Gowdy (1919-2006)“The Voice” of American Sports Continue reading
- Dorothea Dix (1802-1887)Reformer and Mental Health Advocate Continue reading
- E. Power Biggs (1906-1977)Organist Continue reading
- Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney (1824 -1904)Writer, Philosopher, and Reformer Continue reading
- Edward Everett (1794-1865)Congressman, Massachusetts Governor, Ambassador, and Harvard President Continue reading
- Edwin Booth (1833-1893)Actor, Founder of the Player’s Club Continue reading
- Edwin Land (1909-1991)Inventor, Photography Pioneer, and Founder of Polaroid Continue reading
- Eileen F. (Aries) Janiak (1948-2012)Mount Auburn Staff Member Continue reading
- Eleanor Porter (1868 – 1920)Author of “Pollyanna” Continue reading
- Eleanor Raymond (1887 – 1989)Architect Continue reading
- Elizabeth Cary Agassiz (1822-1907)Founder of Radcliffe College Continue reading
- Emily Elizabeth Parsons (1824 – 1880)Nurse, Founder of Mount Auburn Hospital Continue reading
- Fannie Merritt Farmer (1857-1915)Cookbook Author Continue reading
- Fanny Fern (1811 – 1872)Author and Journalist Continue reading
- Fanny Parnell (1848-1882)“Irish Poet and Patriot” Continue reading
- Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965)U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Continue reading
- Francis Parkman (1823 – 1893)Historian and Horticulturist Continue reading
- Frank William Taussig (1859-1940)Economist Continue reading
- Frederic Ward Putnam (1839 – 1915)Anthropologist and Archaeologist Continue reading
- A Good Neighbor: John Chipman Gray the ElderBy Karen Falb Mount Auburn Cemetery and the nearby Larchwood Neighborhood (Fig. 1) have a history going back to the Cemetery’s founding in 1831. At … Continue reading
- George Angell (1823-1909)Humanitarian, Founder of the MSPCA Continue reading
- George Lewis Ruffin (1834 – 1886)Lawyer and Judge Originally from Virginia, George Ruffin was the eldest son of free Black parents. His family moved to Boston in response to a … Continue reading
- George Whitefield Chadwick (1854 – 1931)Composer, Conductor, and Educator Continue reading
- Gertrude Wright Morgan (1861 – 1931)Civil Rights Activist, Founding Member of the NAACP Continue reading
- Gyorgy Kepes (1906 – 2001)Founder of MIT’s Center for Advanced Visual Studies Continue reading
- Harold E. Edgerton (1903-1990)Stroboscopic Photography Pioneer Continue reading
- Harriet Hosmer (1830-1908)Sculptor Continue reading
- Harriet Jacobs (1813 – 1897)Author, Abolitionist, Freedom Seeker Continue reading
- Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848)Boston Mayor Continue reading
- Helen Brooke Taussig (1898 – 1986)Pediatric Cardiologist Continue reading
- Henry Cabot Lodge (1850 – 1924)U.S. Senator Continue reading
- Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1902-1985)Politician and Ambassador Continue reading
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)Poet Continue reading
- Horatio Greenough (1805 – 1852)Sculptor Continue reading
- Hosea Ballou (1771-1852)Universalist Minister Continue reading
- I. F. (“Izzy”) Stone (1907-1989)Investigative Reporter, Journalist, and Publisher Continue reading
- Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924)Art Collector and Museum Founder Continue reading
- Jacob Bigelow (1787-1879)Physician, Mount Auburn Cemetery President Continue reading
- James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)Poet, Editor, and Diplomat Continue reading
- James Thomas Fields (1816/7-1881)Publisher, Editor, and Author Continue reading
- Jared Sparks (1789-1866)Historian, Writer, and Harvard President Continue reading
- Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807-1873)Geologist and Zoologist Continue reading
- Johann Spurzheim (1776 – 1832)Phrenologist Continue reading
- John B. Rawls (1921-2002)Moral and Political Philosopher Continue reading
- John Bartlett (1820-1905)Publisher of “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations” Continue reading
- John Murray (1741 – 1815)Founder of Universalism in America Continue reading
- John Perkins Cushing (1787 – 1862)Merchant and Philanthropist Continue reading
- John Simmons (1796-1870)Businessman, Philanthropist, Founder of Simmons College Continue reading
- Joseph Story (1779-1845)US Supreme Court Associate Justice, Mount Auburn Cemetery President Continue reading
- Josephine Ruffin (1842-1924)Journalist, Publisher, and Civil Rights Leader Continue reading
- Joshua Bowen Smith (1813 – 1879)Caterer and Underground Railroad Conductor Continue reading
- Joyce Chen (1917 – 1994)Celebrated Restaurateur, Cookbook Author, Culinary Television Personality, and Entrepreneur Continue reading
- Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910)Suffragist, Author of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” Continue reading
- Katharine Burr Blodgett (1898 – 1979)Physicist and Inventor of “Invisible Glass” Continue reading
- Kittie Knox (1874 – 1900)A Pioneering Cyclist In a previously unmarked grave on Vesper Path lie the remains of Kittie T. Knox, born in 1874. Knox’s mother, Katherine Towle, … Continue reading
- Lemuel Shaw (1781-1861)Jurist Continue reading
- Lois Lilley Howe (1864-1964)Architect Continue reading
- Ludlow Griscom (1890-1958)Ornithologist, “Dean of the Birdwatchers” Continue reading
- Mabel Wheeler Daniels (1877-1971)Composer and Musician Continue reading
- Margaret Fuller Ossoli (1810-1850)Author and Transcendentalist Continue reading
- Marguerite LeHand (1896 – 1944)Personal Secretary to FDR Continue reading
- Maria Richards Oakey DewingArtist Continue reading
- Maria White Lowell (1821 – 1853)Poet Continue reading
- Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910)Author, Publisher, and Discoverer of Christian Science Continue reading
- Mary Porter Tileston Hemenway (1820 – 1894)Philanthropist Continue reading
- Mary Walker (1818 – 1873)Freedom Seeker, Seamstress, and Caretaker Mary Walker began her life enslaved in North Carolina, where she lived on the large plantation of Duncan Cameron. Walker … Continue reading
- Mary Whiton Calkins (1863-1930)Psychologist and Philosopher Continue reading
- Maud Morgan (1903 – 1999)Contemporary Artist Continue reading
- Minor White (1908 – 1976)Photographer and Teacher Continue reading
- Morrill Wyman (1812 – 1903)Physician Continue reading
- Myrtle Hart (1874 – 1966)Harpist Continue reading
- Nadine Fortune Wright (1893 – 1994)Educator and Activist Continue reading
- Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838)Mathematician and Astronomer Continue reading
- Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806-1867)Poet, Editor, and Publisher Continue reading
- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 – 1894)Physician, Poet, and Author Continue reading
- Peter Bent Brigham (1807-1877)Restaurateur and Philanthropist Continue reading
- Peter Byus (1800 – 1867)Tailor and Freedom Seeker Continue reading
- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)Rector of Trinity Church, Episcopalian Bishop, and Author “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Continue reading
- R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983)Inventor, Designer, and Visionary Continue reading
- Richard Henry Dana III (1851-1931)Lawyer and Reformer Continue reading
- Robert Creeley (1926 – 2005)Poet Continue reading
- Samuel Gridley Howe (1801 – 1876)Revolutionary, Reformer, and Educator Continue reading
- Stephen P. Mugar (1901 – 1982)Founder of Star Market, Philanthropist Continue reading
- Svetlana Boym (1959-2015)Novelist, Playwright, Cultural Critic, and New Media Artist Continue reading
- Theodore Thomas (1835 – 1905)Conductor Continue reading
- Theodore William Richards (1868 – 1928)Chemist, Nobel Prize Recipient Continue reading
- Thomas Cass (1821 – 1862)Civil War General Continue reading
- Thomas Gold Appleton (1812-1884)Art Patron and Collector Continue reading
- Thomas H. Perkins (1764 – 1854)Merchant and Philanthropist Continue reading
- Thomas Whittemore (1871–1950)Art Historian, Archaeologist, and Byzantine Scholar Continue reading
- Timothy Fuller (1778 – 1835)Lawyer and Legislator Continue reading
- Walter Hunnewell (1917 – 1999)Businessman and Patron of Horticulture Continue reading
- William Alfred (1922 – 1999)Playwright and Poet Continue reading
- William Barton Rogers (1804-1882)MIT Founder Continue reading
- William Brewster (1851-1919)Ornithologist Continue reading
- William Ellery Channing (1780 – 1842)Unitarian Minister and Social Reformer Continue reading
- William F. Harnden (1812 – 1845)Express Industry Pioneer Continue reading
- William Henry Lewis (1868-1949)All-American Football Player and U.S. Assistant Attorney General Continue reading
- Williamina Fleming (1857 – 1911)Astronomer Continue reading
- Winslow Homer (1836-1910)Artist Continue reading
Who should we highlight next? Leave a comment below with your suggestion!
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