Pray, Eleanor Lord, 1868-1954

Biographical Note

• 1868, Nov. 28: Born, Berwick, Maine
• 1894: Married Frederick ("Ted") Pray and moves with him to Vladivostok, Russia, to work in Pray's brother-in-law's store, "The American Store"
• 1898: Death of Charles Smith, Pray's brother-in-law. Sarah Smith becomes sole owner of the American Store; her brother, Frederick Pray, becomes manager of the store
• 1906: Birth of daughter, Dorothy Pray
• 1916 - 1924 : Dorothy attends the American School in Shanghai, Shanghai, China. Frederick Pray's sister Sarah Smith leaves Vladivostok, moves to Shanghai with Dorothy, and works at the school and remains in Shanghai after Dorothy graduates
• 1917 - 1923 : Frederick Pray works at the U.S. consulate in Vladivostok, Russia, first as clerk, finally as a vice counsul
• 1918: The American Store closes
• 1919 - 1924 : Eleanor Pray works as volunteer and treasurer of the American Red Cross, Vladivostok chapter, Vladivostok, Russia
• 1923: Death of Frederick Pray
• 1923 - 1930 : Eleanor Pray works as bookkeeper and translator at Kunst & Albers department store, Vladivostok, Russia
• 1930: Kunst & Albers closes, Eleanor Pray leaves Vladivostok, Russia, to join daughter Dorothy and sister-in-law Sarah Smith in Shanghai, China
• 1954, Feb.: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the Eleanor Lord Pray Papers, 1894-1975, (bulk 1894-1930), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)