Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

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MRS. H. GODFREY TURNER
(Maud Powell)
Mrs. Maud Powell Turner was born August 22, 1868,
in Peru, Illinois, <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> W. Bramwell and Minnie
(Paul) Powell. She was a niece <strong>of</strong> John W. Powell,
<strong>the</strong> famous Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States Geological
Survey. Her common school education was obtained in
She studied music in Chicago, and at
Aurora, Illinois.
<strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> thirteen she went abroad to study at Leipzig,
Paris and Berlin, where she was a pupil <strong>of</strong> Joachim. Before
her return to <strong>the</strong> United States, she gave several concerts
before royalty in England and Russia, by command.
Her New York debut was made with <strong>the</strong> Philharmonic
Society, when she was sixteen years old.
She was soloist with <strong>the</strong> orchestras <strong>of</strong> Thomas, Seidl,
Nikisch and Damrosch. She accompanied <strong>the</strong> New York
Arion Club on its tour in Germany and Austria. In 1899-
1901 she toured <strong>the</strong> British Isles and <strong>the</strong> European continent.
Her playing was marked by intelligent interpretation,
an unusual purity <strong>of</strong> tone, and adequate technique.
Many critics regarded her as <strong>the</strong> world's most
talented <strong>of</strong> women violinists. She was also a contributor
on musical topics to various Journals.
In 1904, Maud Powell was married to H. Godfrey
Turner <strong>of</strong> London.
When playing in concert at St. Louis, in 1919, she
collapsed, and for twenty-four hours hovered between
life and death. She recovered, however, and continued
her tour. The following January, at Uniontown, Pennsylvania,
she suffered a nervous breakdown, and died in
that city, at a hotel, on January 8, 1920.