“ Brainard assumed charge of the music in Mary Institute, the female department of Washington University, numbering in recent years nearly four-hundred girls. Mrs. Brainard's class-work, as systematized and developed in that institute, is remarkable. During her career in Mary Institute she has frequently spent her vacations in the East with some prominent teacher, to obtain new ideas for her work. Among these was a trip to Europe, where she studied in Paris and London with Viardot, Garcia and Sainton Dolby. Many girls with promising voices have been started on their musical career by Mrs. ”

“ At fifteen she was obliged to begin to earn her living by teaching piano. At the same time her musical studies were faithfully carried on under the best masters. Vocal lessons were begun at that time and she made rapid progress in florid singing. ”