Mary Atwater Kelsey

Kelsey was a church organist in Grand Rapids.^[2] From 1898 to 1902 she was president of the St. Cecilia Society of Grand Rapids, which she helped to organize in 1883.^[3][4] She welcomed the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) to Grand Rapids in 1899.^[5][6] She was also chair of the Civic Music Committee of Grand Rapids.^[4] She took particular interest in bringing musical performances to disadvantaged audiences, including disabled veterans, prisoners, orphans, factory workers, and residents of the local "poor farm".^[7]

Kelsey was president of the National Federal of Music Clubs (NFMC) for two terms, elected in 1907, and re-elected in 1909. During her presidency, the number of local clubs doubled, and a vice president was appointed for each state;^[7] the NFMC also established prizes for living American composers.^[8] After her active presidency, she attended British meetings of music clubs representing the NFMC.^[7][9]

Mary Atwater married banker Charles Bert Kelsey in 1888.^[10] They had a daughter, Ann, born in 1897. She died in 1915, in Grand Rapids, five weeks after suffering a stroke in San Francisco,^[2] where she was visiting the Panama–Pacific International Exposition with her daughter. She was 55 years old.^[1][3] Her music library was donated to the Grand Rapids Public Library.^[11]