Edmund Pike Graves papers

Edmund Pike Graves (1856-1913) was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts. He married Mary Warner Caldwell, also of Newburyport, in 1883; they had four daughters, Ellen, Mary, Nancy and Ruth, and one son, Edmund Jr.

In 1898, Graves moved with his family to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to become a buyer of wool. Graves' clients included the Bigelow Carpet Company and George Willcomb and Company. He remained in business in Argentina until his death in 1913.

Graves and his family became a part of the English-speaking colony in Buenos Aires. Graves was active in efforts to raise funds for a statue of George Washington to be presented as a gift to the Argentinean people, and at the time of his death he was vice-president of the American Society of the River Plate. In addition, the records indicate the family belonged to various associations and clubs including: a Yacht Club, the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, the British and American Benevolent Society and the English Literary Society.

Despite their involvement in the life of Buenos Aires, the Graves family did not remain in South America after Graves' death in 1913. His daughter, Nancy Graves, married Samuel Cabot of Boston and lived in Massachusetts. The records indicate that her mother and sisters also returned to New England soon after 1913.

Edmund Pike Graves, Jr. (1891-1919) began his education at an English boarding school in Argentina, but was enrolled in the Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts, in about 1906. He graduated from Harvard College with an A. B. in 1913. After college, Graves accepted a job with the Great Northern Railway and moved to North Dakota. He remained with Great Northern until 1916, when he was forced to leave due to an illness. Regaining his health by the following year, Graves went to Canada to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps. He became a pilot instructor in Texas (winter quarters of the Royal Flying Corps) and taught himself to stunt with the Curtiss airplane. In May 1918, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.

Graves, Jr. sailed to Europe in 1918, but arrived in Scotland only to learn that World War I was coming to an end. He still sought active service, however, and remained in the Royal Air Force after the Armistice. He volunteered for a number of post-war activities, remaining in the military until July 1919. He then joined the newly formed Kosciuszko Squadron of American pilots to fight on behalf of the Polish Republic against Russia. Graves engaged in several flights over enemy lines. On November 22, 1919, Graves was in Lemberg, Poland, taking part in a flying exhibition. As he was attempting to execute a double roll at an altitude of only 150 feet, the wing of Graves' plane broke. Graves jumped from the plane, but his parachute did not open in time. He was killed instantly.