Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Mary Townsend Mason (1886 - 1964) first sought art classes at the Leachwood School in Norfolk Virginia, and then later on, at the Maryland Institute in Baltimore. She later moved to Philadelphia to take courses at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), studying under the painters William Chase and Hugh Breckenridge. In 1909 she married to a distinguished lawyer, William Clarke Mason. She was awarded the Cresson European Scholarship from PAFA, two gold medals from the Plastic Club, and the Philadelphia Sketch Club Golf Medal among numerous others over the course of her lifetime. Mary exhibited work at PAFA regularly from 1921 - 1964, and in many other institutions and events including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Venice Biennale and International Expo.