Mum: The Life and Extended Family of Constance Harper Tyler

Constance Harper Tyler was born into a family that had known considerable success in printing and publishing (Harper & Brothers). She traced her ancestry back to Nicholas Simpkins (1600-1654), one of Massachusetts' first settlers. The Harper-Hoe-Bacon-Simp-kins-Agassiz genealogy made possible her membership in the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. The risk taking, inventive genius, work ethic, sportsmanship, and philanthropic commitments of these families sculpted Mrs. Tyler's character. Following graduation from Milton Academy and a year studying art at Miss Nixon's School in Florence, Italy, she married Sidney F. Tyler of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Through the Depression and WW II, she maintained a home and raised her five children. As with other eastern families for whom the war was a watershed, the Tylers moved to the West when the war ended, purchasing a home in Tucson, Arizona and a cattle ranch in Carbondale, Colorado. Showing the resilience and energy of her forbearers, Mrs. Tyler took on ranch responsibilities with enthusiasm. She volunteered her time to art and education in the valley, while setting an example for her children of hard work, outdoor recreation, and a general optimism for life's twists and turns. She was equally comfortable with ranch hands and the well educated, and because of her welcoming personality, she was generally loved by all.More than just an "everyday lady," Constance Harper Tyler ensured the survival of the rich legacy she represented.