Encyclopedia Titanica

Helen Churchill Candee

First Class Passenger

Helen Churchill Candee

Mrs Edward Candee (Helen Churchill Hungerford), 52, was born in New York City on 5 October 1859 the daughter of Henry Hungerford and Mary E. Churchill. She was educated in various private schools in New Haven and Norwalk, CT. She married Edward Candee and had one daughter, Edith, who married Harold C. Mathews.

Helen considered herself to be an author and lectured on the Liberal Arts and the Orient. Among her writings were: "Susan Truslow" in 1900, "An Oklahoma Romance" in 1901, "How Women May Earn a Living" in 1900, "Decorative Styles and Periods" in 1906, "The Tapestry Book" in 1912, "Angkor, the Magnificent" in 1924, "New Journeys In Old Asia" in 1927, and "Weaves and Draperies" in 1931. She was decorated by the government of French-Indo China in 1929 and was a member of the India Society of London as well as the Les Amis de l'Orient of Paris.

Mrs Candee boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a first class passenger. She was travelling to Washington DC. She was rescued in lifeboat 6. She had given an antique cameo of her mother to Edward A. Kent for safekeeping as she thought he would have a better chance of surviving the sinking than she did. Although Mr Kent died, his body was recovered and the cameo was found in his clothing and returned to Mrs Candee. She was a strikingly beautiful woman and Archibald Gracie included her in his "Our Coterie" group.

Mrs Candee died in York, York County, Maine on 23 August 1949 and is buried in York at First Parish Cemetery.

Helen Churchill Candee Grave
Courtesy of Lyse Tournay, Canada

Research Articles

Randy Bryan Bigham Titanica! (2005) Life's Decor: A Biography of Helen Churchill Candee
A woman of extraordinary vision, talent and resolve
Helen Churchill Candee Titanica! (2005) Sealed Orders
A Titanic survivor's classic tale of love and fate

Newspaper Articles

New York Times Book Review (10 February 1900) How Women May Earn A Living
New York Times Book Review (19 October 1901) The Author Of "an Oklahoma Romance"
Washington Post (11 January 1912) Society: Mrs. Churchill Candee
Washington Times (16 April 1912) List Of Washingtonians On Fated Steamer Grows
Washington Times (18 April 1912) Nothing Yet Heard From Mrs. Candee
Mrs. Churchill Candee Washington Herald (19 April 1912) Mrs. Candee Lauds Maj. Butt's Heroism
Washington Times (19 April 1912) Mrs. Candee Tells Of Tragic Scenes As Steamer Sank
The Times (20 April 1912) Other Statements By Survivors
Washington Post (30 April 1912) Society: Mrs. Candee
New York Times (11 April 1913) Horsewomen In Parade
Ann Ross Gazette and Bulletin (15 June 1928) Women's Varied Interest

Documents and Certificates

Credits

Phillip Gowan, USA
Spencer Stonemetz, USA
Lyse Tournay, USA

Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mrs Helen Churchill Candee (née Hungerford)
Age: 52 years 6 months and 10 days (Female)
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married to Edward Candee
Last Residence: in Washington DC, United States
Occupation: Writer
Embarked: Cherbourg on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 17606, £27 8s 11d
Rescued (boat 6)  
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Buried: First Parish Cemetery, York, Maine, United States

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