Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

Sarah Hershey Eddy

Sarah Hershey Eddy (Seated)

Daughter of the late Benjamin and Elizabeth Hershey; was born in Lancaster, Penn., and educated in Philadelphia, where she received her musical training and made her debut as a singer. She sang for some years in a church choir. Her voice breaking down, she devoted herself to the study of the piano and in 1867 went to Europe and settled in Berlin, where she studied harmony, score-reading, piano playing under Professor Stem, and singing under Miss Jennie Mayer and others of the best known teachers and artists of Germany.

After three years she studied in Italy under some of the best Italian masters, both in music and language. Later she went to London where she took a course in oratorical work with Madam Sainton-Dolby. In 1871 she returned to America, and for several months gave private lessons in New York City, when she was called to Pittsburgh to fill the post of professor in the vocal department of a female college.

In 1875 she went to Chicago, and with W. S. B. Matthews founded the Hershey School of Musical Art. The success of this school attracted students from all over the United States. Mr. Clarence Eddy was eventually made director of this school and in 1879 he married Miss Sarah Hershey. Under their joint management the school continued to prosper until the duties became so exacting that both resigned and devoted themselves to teaching in private classes.

In 1887 Mrs. Eddy was elected a member of the Board of Examiners in the Vocal Department of the American College of Music, and in 1893 she was made vice-president of the Woman's Musical Congress at the World's Fair in Chicago, and was one of the Examining Committee of Musical Competition, of which Theodore Thomas was the presiding officer.

In 1895 Mrs. Eddy retired from her profession and has since lived in Paris.

Women of America

Source: The Part Taken by Women in American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.