Champney, Edwin Graves, 1842-1899

Edwin Graves Champney was born in Boston on August 24, 1842, the son of George M. Champney and Lucy A. Brown. He moved to Woburn in 1847 at a young age when his parents relocated here. He enlisted as a Private at the age of 19 in September of 1862 in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment, Company G, serving until July of 1863 during which time he served eight months in eastern North Carolina. He enlisted again in July of 1864 as a Corporal, serving until November of that year.

During his Civil War service Champney recorded his observations in sketch books, both battle scenes and the everyday life of soldiers and the people he encountered. After his tour he went to Antwerp in 1871 to study at the Royal Academy and then traveled to Paris and Dusseldorf, returning to Boston in 1875. He was an assistant to John LeFarge during the mural creation at Trinity Church in 1876 and taught later at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Edwin Champney passed away on September 25, 1899 and is buried at Woodbrook Cemetery.

Biographical data; letters written from Antwerp, Dusseldorf and Paris to his father, mother and sister Ellen, 1871-1875; 30 diaries, 1854-1864, 1870-1874, 1878-1899, containing brief entries, sketches, notes, cash accounts and expenses, clippings, museum admission tickets, and a list of sales of A MEMENTO OF LEXINGTON, 1887; an undated catalog of pictures exhibited at Mrs. Martha Lowe's house in Somerville Massachusetts; printed material, including calling and business cards, and a copy of A MEMENTO OF LEXINGTON, 1887, illustrated by Albert S. Parsons and Edwin G. Champney; and 6 photographs of Edwin Graves Champney.

Champney was a native Bostonian and Union soldier. Champney enlisted as a private in the 5th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Company G at the time he sketched the drawings. He arrived in Eastern North Carolina in October 1862 and took part in the Goldsboro Expedition. Champney was stationed at Cape Hatteras from February 23, 1863 until the close of his North Carolina tour on June 22, 1863.