Grandma Moses Leaves A Legacy

Here's a special lady I just had to tell you about. I ran across her story while in the elevator of an Assisted Living establishment where I go to help a senior twice a week in the early mornings.

While standing in the elevator I found myself looking over to see the phrase "Grandma Moses" plastered over the picture of a little old lady. I wondered why someone would give her such a name and realized why.

Her real name was Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961) As you can see by her years living on earth, she lived to see 101 years old, but that's not the kicker! This very special lady was an American Folk artist and decided to change her career to this at an advanced age in her seventies when the arthritis set in. While many people today look to retire with what money they can, Anna, found herself pursuing another endeavor in the arts that became very noticed and even remembered to this day.

I find myself speaking with more seniors today who believe that they are at the end of their road and no one really cares anymore. However, that is not the case and as we can see from "Grandma Moses", she left a legacy behind for us all to remember her by even if she probably didn't think so.

According to Wikipedia, here are some of Grandma Moses legacies:

• A 1942 piece, The Old Checkered House, 1862 was appraised at the Memphis 2004 Antiques Roadshow. The painting was a summer scene in Geneva, New York, not as common as her winter landscapes. Originally purchased in the 1940s for under $10, the piece was assigned an insurance value of $60,000 by the appraiser, Alan Fausel.

• Another of her paintings, Fourth of July, was given by Otto Kallir to the White House and still hangs there today.

• The character Granny on the popular 1960s rural comedy television series The Beverly Hillbillies was named Daisy Moses as an homage to Grandma Moses, who died shortly before the series began.She is buried in Hoosick Falls, New York.

• Norman Rockwell, who, for a time, lived in Arlington, Vermont, was a friend of Grandma Moses who lived in nearby Eagle Bridge, New York. Grandma Moses also appears on the far left edge in the Norman Rockwell painting Christmas Homecoming, which was printed on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post of December 25, 1948.

• A U.S. commemorative stamp was issued in her honor in 1969.

If you know anything about the Beverly Hillbillies, who knew that the Granny character was named as reverence paid to Grandma Moses? AMAZING!!!

When the next time you see your grandma or grandpa ask them how life was back when. Ask then how they viewed life and opportunity. Maybe their answers will surprise you like the life of Anna Mary Robertson Moses.

You're never to old to be someone to somebody. -Selena

Post any comments you may have. I would love to hear your thoughts.