Frank D. Graham
Frank Duncan Graham (1875—1965) was a prolific and eloquent writer of the ever popular and frequently reprinted Audel's guides of various titles. Graham seemed to specialize, however, in subjects related to steam engines and other types of engines.
A few of Graham's more epic works include his eight-volume Audel's Engineers and Mechanics Guide, 1921, which covered subjects as diverse as flying "aeroplanes" to steam engines and house wiring, and the 12 volume Audel's New Electric Library, 1929, covering practically all that was known about electricity up to the time.
A few (but not all) of the other Audel's books by Graham include: Audel's Handy Book of Practical Electricity, Audel's Power Plant Engineer's Guide, Audel's House Heating Guide, and Audel's Machinists & Tool Makers Handy Book.
Graham was a graduate of Princeton University, with a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering and a licensed marine and stationary engineer with the Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey. Graham's place of residence was near Sea Bright, New Jersey, on a farm sometimes referred to in his works as "Stornoway". Graham also built two steam powered yachts as demonstrators of his theories on steam plant construction and management, the Stornoway and Stornoway II. It is not known if either of these vessels survive today.
From the Princeton Alumni Weekly Volume 66, number 22 (April 19, 1966) page 17: "MEMORIALS—FRANK DUNCAN GRAHAM '99—One of our truly southern members, Frank Graham, died on Nov. 24, 1965 in Long Branch, N.J. He was born Aug. 16, 1875 at Talledega Springs, Ala., the family seat, and later moved to Montgomery.
His musical background was responsible for an early start on his career as a finished musician. Among his several teachers he was especially impressed with the renowned organist and choirmaster, Bruno Oscar Klein of St. Xavier Church, New York City.
After graduating with a B.S. degree, Frank continued his studies in steam engineering at Stevens Institute where he graduated in 1902. He secured his M.S. degree at Princeton in 1903. Our class ode played by a band at commencement was one of his compositions.
Frank's engineering courses were the inspiration for 50 or more books used largely in many institutions. Recognition for these original works, not compilations, earned a degree, Doctor of Thermatics and Hydraulics from the Montgomery Alabama State Chamber of Commerce. One of his pets was the discovery of a mistake in the calculation of the external latent heat-evaporation in the steam table, and his chief peeve was literary thieves making use of his published material without his permission or reference to the author.
During his extensive career as organist and choir master in several churches, one incident stands out prominently from his many recollections. He had applied for a try-out for the position as organist in the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., and when he arrived found a large audience instead of only six or more members of the Music Committee. A notice in a local newspaper stating that Frank would present a recital was responsible. With characteristic energy and confidence, he gave a full program, including Bach's G Minor Mass, all from memory.
His list of compositions is extensive and varied, consisting of songs, piano, violin, and organ pieces. Several of his anthems published by Oliver Ditson, Boston, having been sung in many churches. Another recollection is interesting; while playing in the Sea Bright Presbyterian Chapel, he composed a setting for the hymn 'The Shadows of the Evening Hour' at the request of Miss Janetta McCook, a niece of Mrs. Charles Alexander, donor of Alexander Hall.
He felt that his masterpiece was a symphonic tone poem scored for orchestra, organ, harp, and chorus, called 'Meditations after Lamartine.' Following the death of his first wife, Myrtle Wetmore Stumm, he and Louise Fuetterer, who survives him, were married on Oct. 12, 1935. The Princeton Library is richer for the gift of several manuscripts of his musical compositions presented by his widow, Louise, to whom we send our deepest sympathy." [1] (PDF page 774)
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