Encyclopedia Titanica

Margaret Edith Graham

Margaret Graham

Miss Margaret Edith Graham was born on 16 Febuary 16, 1893, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was the daugther of William Thompson Graham (1851 - 1932) and his wife Edith Ware Junkins (1852 - 1924). Margaret had six siblings, William Townsend (b. 1876), Mary (b. 1879), Nellie Alice (b. 1881), John Joseph (b. 1882), Alice (b. 1884), Samuel Junkins (b. 1886), and Margaret Edith (b. 1893). Soon after Margaret's birth, the Graham family moved to Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut. Margaret's father, William Thompson Graham, was a wealthy businessman, the President of the American Can Company, who had been one of the original backers of the 'Dixie Cup'. This simple invention boosted the Graham finances still further and, by the beginning of the twentieth century, they were comfortably established in Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1912 they lived in Greenwich, CT.

Margaret, her mother and governess Elizabeth Weed Shutes boarded the Titanic at Southampton. Margaret and Elizabeth occupied cabin C-125, her mother was in C-91.

When the Titanic hit the iceberg, Margaret was nibbling at a Chicken sandwich. Shutes asked a passing crewman if anything was wrong, the answer was 'No'. Then she looked at Margaret, who was so uneasy that the chicken kept falling from the bread.

Margaret, her mother ans Miss Shutes were helped to lifeboat 3 by Howard B. Case and Washington Augustus Roebling II. As the boat landed they watched Case calmly leaning against the rail, lighting a cigarette and waving goodbye.

Afterwards, Margaret returned home to Greenwich and within two years Margaret married on 6 June 1914 to Mr Eugene M. Moore, the senior executive of a famous law firm, located in Stratford, Connecticut. Mrs Moore was active with the American Red Cross during World War II, and was active in local civic life thoughout her life. The couple had three children, Margaret (b. 1916), Eugene Maxwell Moore (1917 - 2009), and William (1922 - 2003).

Margaret Grahahm Moore in 1920
(Courtesy of NARA / Gavin Bell)

Margaret died on 26 April 1976, She was buried in Putnam Cemetery, in her hometown of Greenwich.

Grave
Courtesy of Michael A. Findlay, USA

References and Sources

Daily Graphic, April 20, 1912

Newspaper Articles

New York Times (16 April 1912) Lord Rothes Awaits Wife
The Greenwich News (19 April 1912) Greenwich People Saved
Mother and Daughter Tell How Young Trentonian and London Friend Excelled in Gallantry and Cheerfulness in the Time That Tried the Souls of All Aboard the Sinking Liner
New York Times (20 April 1912) Women Revealed As Heroines By Wreck (3)
New York Times (20 March 1914) Titanic Survivor To Wed
New York Times (7 June 1914) Miss M. Graham Weds
The Greenwich News (14 June 1914) Moore-graham
New York Times (27 April 1976) Margaret Moore, 83, Survivor Of Titanic

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Comment and discuss

  1. Mike Herbold

    In the large book "Extra Titanic", The Story of the Disaster in the Newspapers of the Day, from the collections of Eric Caren and Steve Goldman, the special issue of "The Daily Graphic" dated April 20, 1912, is reprinted in full. On page 4, there is a picture of Margaret Graham -- the same picture that is shown on her E.T. bio. The Daily Graphic caption reads: Miss Margaret Graham, a well-known Californian actress.--Known to be saved." Her E.T. bio mentions nothing about being from California or being an actress. Does anyone have any info to that effect? Mike
    : Reply

  2. Gavin Bell

    Dear Mike Although I do not have the book you speak of I do have the issue of "The Daily Graphic" dated April 20, 1912 that you speak of. I have also noticed this. I actually think that Margaret may have been an actress and I think (I stress think) that this is mentioned in the Haas and Eaton book 'Triumph and Tragedy. I have heard nothin about her supposed California connection, however. Nevertheless, and in reply to your message about John James Borebank also, I have many of these old newspapers and many photographs are captioned incorrectly. For example, one paper I have shows a picture of a woman captioned as Mrs T. M. Cardeza. Having seen several pictures of Mrs Cardeza I know this not to be the same woman. In the same article you speak of, John James Borebank is captioned incorrectly, with a picture of a much older man in his place. This is not the same picture that is posted on EB.
    : Reply
  3. Daniel Rosenshine (Danielr)

    Daniel Rosenshine (Danielr)

    Margaret Graham was most certainly an actress. Miss Dorothy Gibson usually stole the light when conversation reached actresses on the Titanic, but Miss Graham was most certainly one too. Daniel.
    : Reply

  4. Mike Herbold

    Thanks Cameron and Daniel: Found a different profile picture of her in "Triumph and Tragedy", page 145, but still no mention of being an actress or a Californian. You're absolutely correct about mistakes in the Daily Graphic -- e.g., pg. 9, "Mr. Ryerson -- Who was making the journey from England to attend the funeral of a daughter in Philadelphia." By the way, I noticed "Extra Titanic" is available at amazon.com. I'll rule out Borebank from my Californian list, but let me know if you come across anything on Miss Graham being an actress and/or Californian. Mike (an interested Californian)
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  5. Phillip Gowan

    Mike, I asked Margaret Graham's granddaughter about the article mentioned above and she said that her grandmother was never an actress and never lived in California. I'd put my money on confusion between Margaret and Dorothy Gibson. The granddaughter, who now lives in Manhattan, is very knowledgeable about Titanic and has a copy of the article in question.
    : Reply

  6. Mike Herbold

    Thanks Phllip. I'll move her back to my regular binders. Thanks to you my binders of Californians was getting too big anyway. I'm mailing you another present tomorrow, but it's still not the one we're hoping for. Mike
    : Reply

  7. mark

    I am new to this as far as posting a message. I wanted to ask Phillip Gowan who Margaret Graham's grandaughter was that lives in Manhattan? Mark
    : Reply

  8. mark

    Margaret Graham had three children: Margaret, Eugene, and Williams, are they still living. Does anyone know anything about them? Mark
    : Reply

  9. Arne Mjåland

    According to the obituary about Margaret Graham Moore in Greenwich Time April 27 1976 she left as mentioned in her ET biography three children. She also left 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Have anybody met any of them? The law firm her husband Eugene worked for was Manning, Maxwell & Moore. He died in 1930.
    : Reply
  10. Bill Smith

    Bill Smith

    Re: Moore family head stone, Putnam Cemetery, Greenwich, New York This is almost certainly wrong. There is a Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich, CT. The article says they lived in Greenwich, CT, so it seems natural she would be buried there. As a side note, this is the same cemetery where both Presidents Bushs' father, Prescott Bush is buried.
    : Reply

  11. Martin Williams

    Many thanks to Michael Poirier for contributing the lovely photograph of Margaret to Encyclopedia Titanica. It is always great to see a new shot of one of the more obscure passengers. And, if I'm correct in thinking that this is actually an American passport photograph (which, then or now, are not noted for being terribly forgiving), then Margaret must have been something of a looker in the flesh. What do we know about Margaret and her mother, Edith? A preliminary Google reveals that the Grahams were very affluent indeed. Edith's husband, William Thompson Graham, was a wealthy businessman, the President of the American Can Company, who had been one of the original backers of the 'Dixie Cup'. This simple little invention - the prototype of the disposable paper and polystyrene cups we are all so familiar with today - boosted the Graham finances still further and, by the beginning of the twentieth century, they were comfortably established in Greenwich, Connecticut, which was then (as... Read full post
    : Reply

  12. Carole Lindsay

    Martin, Can you tell me the date of the Vanity Fair article? Thanks!
    : Reply

  13. Mike Poirier

    They may have known Lambert Williams and the Taylors due to their connection to the American Can Company.
    : Reply

  14. Martin Williams

    You can read the 'Vanity Fair' article I mentioned here: Purely by chance, I had a copy of the magazine knocking around at home, and so was able to read it in its original format. Sadly, the on-line version does not feature photographs but, on the basis of those I've seen myself, I can add that the Graham mansion once stood in a spectacularly beautiful spot. In its day, it must have commanded magnificent views of the ocean - although whether Edith and Margaret would have appreciated these quite so much after their ordeal on the Atlantic in April, 1912, is open to question!
    : Reply

  15. Brian Ahern

    Thanks for contributing the link, Martin. I'm not sure if the house bought and torn down by Paul Tudor Jones is the house the Grahams were living in by the time Margaret was married. The article says that that house was built by William Thompson Graham. But Margaret's wedding announcement in the Times listed her parents' home as "Otter Rocks" in Belle Haven, which had at least two owners before the Grahams lived in it. The grandeur and expensiveness of the house made it an object of news to the New York Times every time it sold. In 1901, it was owned by Colonel Albert Hilton and was occupied by William Leeds (whose widow would marry Prince Christopher of Greece and whose son would marry Princess Xenia of Russia). In 1902, the Times reported that John L. Elliott of New York was purchasing the house for $76,000.
    : Reply

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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Miss Margaret Edith Graham
Age: 19 years 1 month and 27 days (Female)
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Single
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 17582, £153 9s 3d
Cabin No. C125
Rescued (boat 3)  
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Died: Monday 26th April 1976 aged 83 years
Buried: Putnam Cemetery, Greenwich, Connecticut, United States

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