Gertrude Franklin

Among other distinguished ancestors was her great-grandfather, Gunning Bedford Jr., who, for a short time in the Revolutionary War, was aide-de-camp to General George Washington.

[5] Her musical education began when she was a young girl, and at the age of thirteen, she gave promise of being a brilliant pianist.

Her taste, however, was for vocal music rather than instrumental, and, prompted by natural inclination and the possession of a voice of remarkable sweetness and purity, she began to take lessons in singing.

But Franklin had made arrangements to go to London to study oratorio and English ballad music under Alberto Randegger, who was so pleased with her voice and method that he besought her to remain and make a career in England.

After her return to the U.S., she took an extended course of study under Madame Erminia Rudersdorff for oratorio and the more serious range of classical concert music.

[4] Her work was under the leadership of Theodore Thomas, Walter Damrosch, Emil Paur, Karlberg, Henschel, Gericke, Nikisch, Tomlins, and Gilchrist.

[3] She was in constant receipt of offers for opera and concert tours in Europe and the U.S., but she objected to the fatigue and excitement of travel and did not appear before the public as often as she otherwise would.

[4] In Brookline, Massachusetts, April 8, 1896, she married W. C. G. Salisbury,[5] of Boston, and retired from public life to devote her time to teaching.