McGraw, Ted (Edward R.), 1937-2024
Dates
- Existence: 1937 - 2024 October 3
Biographical note
Edward R. "Ted" McGraw was born in 1937 to Helen Coyne and Edward McGraw. He learned to love Irish traditional music in the 1950s from listening to the local Irish radio program in Rochester, New York, and visiting the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) club where accordionist Frank Murphy and banjo player Neville O'Connor entertained. McGraw eventually learned to play both accordion and concertina, instruments which he played in various groups, including the Blackthorn Ceili Band, which he founded. Keenly interested in keeping Irish music alive, Ted found numerous ways to contribute to its preservation: he taught and wrote about Irish music, chaired the Comhaltas North American Archive Committee, and hosted two Irish radio shows, “Irish House Party” and “Ol’ Fiddler,” over 43 years and more than 2,100 shows. Ted also served on the boards of the local chapters of the Irish American Cultural Institute and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), of which he was board chair for seven years. McGraw was named "Irish-American of the Year" in 1995 by the United Irish Societies of Rochester (UIS) and the Rochester Irish Festival, and was inducted into the CCÉ Northeast Regional Hall of Fame in 2003. He died on October 3, 2024, at the age of 87.
Social Networks and Archival Context (SNAC) Identifier
Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann North America collection of Irish music materials
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is an international organization for the promotion of Irish music, song, dance, and language. These records document the history and activities of the CCÉ Province in North America, with related material from CCÉ in Ireland. The collection includes administrative records, promotional artifacts, and biographical materials, as well as recordings of performances, interviews, and other events.
Hall of Fame induction ceremony, video recording, 2002
Inductees: Michael Danfort, John Droney, Bill Black, Seamus Connolly, Fergus Keane, the Reynolds family (Larry, Larry Jr., Sean, Mike, Paddy), Joe Burke
Performances by: Kimberley Stevens, Allison Reilly, Edward Burke, Fergus Keane, Jimmy Hogan, Tara Lynch, Bill Black, the Reynolds family (Larry, Larry Jr., Sean, Mike, Paddy)
Speakers: Ted McGraw, Patrick Danfort, Frank Kennedy, Larry Reynolds
These recordings have been digitally copied; all original media were retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies, identified by digital content number, can be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.
McGraw, Ted and Cowan, Joel, "The Pure Drop: a Conversation with Clare Concertinist Martin O'Keefe," Concertina and Squeezebox, no. 27, Summer 1992
Newspaper clippings, oral histories, photographs, and other materials about prominent Irish dancers, musicians, and storytellers, most of whom were members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ).
Mike Meehan, Chair of CCÉ branch in Waterbury, CT, receiving an award from NER chair, Ted McGraw in Waterbury, photographs, undated
Promotional materials such as fliers, photographs, programs, and recordings of events organized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), especially by local branches.