Encyclopedia Titanica

Margaret Edith Graham

First Class Passenger

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 Moore in 1920
Margaret Graham 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.

Margaret Graham Moore 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

Comment and discuss

  1. Martin Williams

    Martin Williams

    Thanks, Brian. It has been some months since I carried out my preliminary (and, in any case, not greatly in-depth) research on the Graham family and the details of where they were living, and when, have since become a little cloudy! The Graham governess, Elizabeth Shutes, perhaps deserves an honorary mention on this thread too. I was quite surprised to learn that she and Margaret did not get on and that she left her post soon after her return to the States. The impression I have derived from her account of the sinking is of an intelligent and articulate woman of some sensitivity. Her passport photograph, dated (I think) 1919, can be found somewhere on-line. Again, I was taken aback to discover that, even in her mid-forties, she remained quite strikingly attractive. The status of the governess varied enormously from household to household. Undoubtedly, there were some who were treated with disdain by their employers but then there were many others who were viewed almost as members... Read full post

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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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