Background
Mather, Rufus Graves was born on March 16, 1874 in Morristown, New Jersey, United States. Son of Frank Jewett and Caroline Arms (Graves) Mather.
Mather, Rufus Graves was born on March 16, 1874 in Morristown, New Jersey, United States. Son of Frank Jewett and Caroline Arms (Graves) Mather.
Direct descendant of Review Richard Mather, father of Increase Mather, 1st colonial president of Harvard. Bachelor of Arts, Williams College, 1895.
Of Henry Holt, November 16, 1922. Engaged in business in New York. Went abroad, 1906, during art research in Italy.
Volunteer office manager, Roman district, American Red Cross in Italy, 1917-1918. Founder and honorary vice president (with Miss Holt, afterward wife) Light House Northern 8, Italian national organization for prevention of blindness in Italy, under patronage of King and Queen. Cofounder (with wife) Light House Northern 10, Canton, China, 1929, also education campaign to prevent blindness in Egypt, 1928, in Shanghai, China, 1929.
Promoted prevention of blindness in Palestine, Syria, Greece, Straits Settlements. Java, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Brazil, Argentine, Chile, Peru, Cuba, Porto Rico, Bermuda, Trinidad, Hungary and Austria. Lectured on prevention of blindness, 1935, before members of governments of Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Jugoslavia and Austria, also before royalty and at universities, resulting in fresh efforts in behalf of the blind.
In 1936 with wife lectured in Japan on prevention of blindness and justice for the blind and present at inauguration of first “Lighthouse” for blind in Osaka which was result of their visit in 1929. In China lectured and started a national “Lighthouse” movement under the presidency of Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Lecturer on art archive research, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Columbia, American Academy in Rome, etc.
Contributor articles relating to document of the Della Robbia, L’Arte (Rome, Italy) and American Journal Archæology. Compiler genealogical information now in British Museum and College of Arms, London. Advanced at the request of the King Emperor from the rank of Cavaliere Ufficiale to Commendatore of the Crown of Italy.
Member Delta Psi.; Clubs: The Pilgrims, Williams, Century (New York).
Married Winifred, d.