American Girl Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Mary Edwards is Samantha Parkington's grandmother. Samantha refers to her as "Grandmary."

Personality and Facts[]

Mary Edwards is the mother of Gardner Edwards and the late Lydia Parkington. She has blue eyes and by the start of the series, her hair is white with age. Grandmary's age is unstated in the Central Series but she is stated to be approximately fifty-five years old in Samantha's Theater Kit. Data in the Looking Back section of Changes for Samantha shows an example of a theoretical dress from her adult youth that is dated to the early 1860s which would offer a birth time sometime in the 1840s.[2]; furthermore, she was married in 1867, helping to solidify a birth year sometime in the mid-to-late 1840s.

Grandmary is a very traditional-minded woman, having spent the majority of her adult life in the American Gilded Age (British Middle Victorian Era). She does not initially think positively of modern-for-the-era technology and changes in social attitudes; for example she is chagrined at Gardener's automobile, does not agree with Cornelia's newfangled ideas about women's place in the world, and believes Samantha should always remember to be a proper young lady. She believes that proper discipline is what develops girls into refined ladies. In accordance with the culture of the era, Samantha spends one hour daily--from four to five p.m.--in the parlor with Grandmary working on needlepoint for their sewing hour. While Grandmary cares for Samantha lovingly and is very kind and supportive of her, she can be very stern when Samantha acts in ways she finds unladylike. She is a touch overprotective of Samantha, most likely due to her being an orphan and (at the start of the series) only grandchild, and sometimes appears to baby or indulge her actions once they are explained. For example, when Samantha earns an expensive doll by keeping to her tasks of practice and discipline, she buys it as a reward for her; while initially upset when Samantha claims to have lost it so soon, she is swiftly understanding when she hears that Samantha gave it away to Nellie.

Through the course of the series Grandmary becomes less traditionally-minded in multiple ways, such as allowing Samantha to wear bloomers to help her get over her fear of riding her new bicycle and coming around to the idea that women should have voting rights. She wholly accepts the O'Malley girls as her granddaughters when they are adopted by Gardner and Cornelia.

Samantha is initially very worried about making Grandmary proud and not upsetting her; Grandmary can stop Samantha's outbursts with only a word or a look, and when she does not answer Samantha's questions, Samantha does not push the issue further (e.g. Samantha once asked Grandmary where babies come from and told it was an improper topic for young girls). It is later that they are able to have a more equal and mature relationship, though there are still proper ways she enforces. Grandmary has graceful penmanship, and is quite educated for her era and the expectations of women; she drew up the plans for the main lodge Piney Point after she and her first husband purchased the land, and William asked for her advice on business matters.

At the start of the series, Grandmary is widowed; her first husband, William Edwards, is discussed in The Cry of the Loon. Samantha finds the story of their courtship romantic; they met in 1865 a month before William went to England for a year, and wrote letters every week for the full year. They were engaged upon his return, and married two years later on June 10, 1867.[3] William died some time after Lydia. Grandmary later remarries, becoming the wife of Archibald Beemis in a fall 1905 wedding[4], and lets Samantha move to New York to live with Gardner and Cornelia. She still maintains a warm relationship with Samantha and all her grandchildren.

In The Books[]

Meet Samantha: An American Girl[]

Sam1-2

Grandmary and Samantha in the parlor.

Grandmary is first mentioned when Samantha thinks about what will happen if Grandmary sees her torn stocking from falling out of the tree; while she has a kind loving look towards Samantha normally, she can be stern when talking about being a lady. Thus, Samantha goes to be cleaned up by Jessie before her hour with Grandmary.

She is first seen when Sam goes to met her in the parlor for their sewing hour together; Sam thinks of her as a queen on her throne as she sits very straight with her hair in place and her gown flowing around the chair. They greet each other, then Grandmary bids Samantha sit and tells her to work a little harder on her sampler as it's not going very quickly. The saying on the sampler, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, is interpreted by Grandmary that how people act is more important than what they say. Samantha later asks for a doll and is told is it quite expensive. She horrifies Grandmary with talk of work to earn money (Grandmary says that a lady does not earn money) and, when told by Samantha that Cornelia thinks women should earn money, says that Cornelia has quite a few notions she should keep to herself. She does offer, however, that Samantha may earn the doll by behaving well and doing well at her tasks. When Gard and Cornelia show up in Gardner's automobile, Grandmary is upset, calling it a "dreadful machine" and wonders what she will tell the neighbors about it. Once the couple comes in, Grandmary says she is well but would be better if Gard hadn't ruined the peace of the neighborhood with his horrible machine and asks if he must bring it. When Gard says she'll take Sam riding, she says that Sam can't go because her clothes will be ruined, but lets her go after Cornelia offers her coat. She watches Gard and Sam go off together, shaking her head at the sight, before being distracted by Jessie retrieving pepper for the many ants that have gathered upstairs.

Sam1-4

Grandmary during Jessie's departure.

Grandmary is next seen at another sewing hour, the one where Jessie announces her leaving. When Samantha outbursts at Jessie's announcement, Grandmary silences her with a look before thanking Jessie for her service and saying that Hawkins will have a bonus for her. When Sam asks why Jessie is leaving, Grandmary tells her not to question her elders and that it is Jessie's business. She calls to Samantha when she walks past the parlor after leaving and having spoken to Mrs. Hawkins and Hawkins; she has purchased the doll Samantha has earned and left it on Samantha's bed in reward.

The afternoon after Nellie is sent away from the Rylands Grandmary, Cornelia, Samantha, and Gardner are having tea. Sam blurts out that she knows why Jessie left, surprising Grandmary. Sam says it's because she had a baby. Grandmary asks how she knows and Samantha says that she and Nellie went to her house to see, expecting punishment. Grandmary looks more troubled than angry, saying that Samantha was wrong to do that. Samantha replies that Grandmary was wrong to not tell her why Jessie left. Grandmary inhales sharply and looks at Gardner and Cornelia. They are both silent, and Grandmary confesses she was wrong not to inform Samantha. After silence, Samantha asks if Jessie can come back. Grandmary says Jessie must care for the baby, and Samantha says Jessie can bring Nathaniel because he won't bother anyone. Grandmary looks thoughtful and says that if Jessie wants to return and Mrs. Hawkins doesn't object, it should be okay. Samantha thanks Grandmary enthusiastically; Grandmary is embarrassed that she made a mistake. She changes the subject to Samantha's new doll, asking where it is. When Samantha says she lost the doll, Grandmary becomes upset and starts to fuss at Samantha that she will never grow into a proper young lady and that Grandmary is trying to teach her the values of things. It's when Gard informs Grandmary what happened to the doll that she recants, saying that Samantha does have a fine sense of value. Grandmary is initially shocked at Samantha's request they help the O'Malleys, then laughs and says yes--if Samantha can give up her treasure, then the family can together find a way to help Nellie. She calls Samantha a fine young lady and hugs her warmly.

Samantha Learns a Lesson: A School Story[]

Samantha's Surprise: A Christmas Story[]

Happy Birthday, Samantha!: A Springtime Story[]

Samantha Saves The Day: A Summer Story[]

Changes for Samantha: A Winter Story[]

Grandmary and Admiral Beemis are honeymooning aboard the Admiral's yacht following their wedding in the fall of 1905. Grandmary writes a postcard to Samantha about sailing off the coast of Greece and how much she misses her.

Samantha's Special Talent[]

Samantha Saves the Wedding[]

Samantha's Blue Bicycle[]

Sambike3

Grandmary comforting Samantha after her bike spill.

Grandmary greets Gardner and Cornelia when they arrive, quipping that things have been too quiet without Gard and his dreadful automobile. When she sees the bike that he is giving Samantha and Samantha asks to keep it, she is none too pleased. She says that in her day, bicycles were only ridden by women in circuses wearing tights; later, women were riding everywhere in the streets and some wore hideous bloomers that earned them the nickname "Bloomer Girls" which she considered it most unladylike. However, she allows Samantha to keep the bike if she is safe. After Samantha's first practice, she doesn't think they should go to the park but Samantha chooses to. When Samantha crashes her bicycle and spills into the lake, she is horrified, says Samantha could have been killed, and insists they go home right now and the poor child needs rest.

After the bike is repaired, she tells Samantha and mentions that Hawkins can help her practice; she is a little surprised at Samantha's quick refusal to do so. She does not push the matter, though. When Samantha tries to ride again and falls, Grandmary sees her and goes out to comfort her. She understands that Samantha is scared that if she doesn't learn to ride she won't be part of her aunt and uncle's lives anymore, and offers to help her get over her fear of riding. She then gets Samantha a set of bloomers which help her overcome her fear of riding, later saying to Cornelia that a lady is a lady no matter what she's wearing (a statement Cornelia used earlier).

The Curse of Ravenscourt[]

The Stolen Sapphire[]

The Cry of the Loon[]

Clue in the Castle Tower[]

Danger in Paris[]

Samantha's Ocean Liner Adventure[]

The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha[]

Samantha: The Gift[]

Grandmary's personality is changed in the volume in slight ways, making her more rigid and set in her ways. She is first seen when Samantha, after being located by Elsa, has been escorted to the parlor and questions what she was doing. Upon hearing about Nellie, she tells Samantha that she and Nellie cannot be friends as Samantha is a proper young lady and Nellie is a servant--however, she can help Nellie. She then tells Samantha to spend time practicing her piano before Gardner and Cornelia arrive in Mount Bedford.

Samantha: Lost and Found[]

Samantha: An American Girl Holiday[]

Grandmary is portrayed by Mia Farrow.

Trivia[]

  • Early drafts of Samantha's last three stories, written by Valerie Tripp, had Grandmary die before Samantha went to live with her uncle Gardner in New York City. Her husband--whom she read her drafts to--disliked the idea and found it cold-hearted, so the story was rewritten to have Grandmary marry Admiral Beemis and go on a sailing trip around the world instead.[5]

References[]

  1. The three girls are adopted as of Changes for Samantha.
  2. Afternoon Dress: Day Bodice, Evening Bodice, and Skirt; Unknown, 1862 - 1864, Cincinnati Art Museum.
  3. Minute Mysteries 2
  4. Samantha's Teacher's Guide
  5. Author, Valerie Tripp, historical fiction writer of American Girl books: "Because she wanted Samantha to go live in New York City with Uncle Garth(sic), she decided to kill off GrandMary. When her husband read the draft, he thought this was horrible and cold-hearted. So she revised and had GrandMary remarry and take a sailing trip, requiring Samantha to go live in New York City." Accessed 3/29/2023.
Advertisement