Marian MacDowell
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Marian MacDowell (maiden name Marian Griswold Nevins) (1857 - August 23, 1956) was the founder of MacDowell Colony, an art colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, United States.
Marian was the wife of the composer Edward MacDowell. After founding the Colony in 1907, Marian MacDowell raised the much-needed financial support to ensure its perpetuation by touring the nation performing concerts of her husband’s piano music. She frequently performed concerts for women's music clubs such as the MacDowell clubs, named after Edward MacDowell. She maintained close relationships with many of these clubs throughout her life, in addition to umbrella organizations such as the National Federation of Music Clubs and the fraternities Sigma Alpha Iota, Delta Omicron, Phi Beta, and Alpha Chi Omega. Through her unceasing efforts to support both female and male artists in all disciplines, Marian MacDowell became a leading figure for the arts in the United States.
[edit] Honorary
Marian was awarded many honorary degrees from different academic, artistic and media institutions [1]:
- The prize of "the American woman who makes the most valuable contribution to American life during the year" from Pictorial Review,
- the Pettee Medal from the University of New Hampshire (1940),
- the Henry Hadley Medal for outstanding service to music.
- At the age of 92 she was honored by the National Institute of Arts and Letters for her distinguished service in the arts.
