Sara Rittenhouse Brown

Sara Rittenhouse Brown ( Brown; surname after marriage, Rittenhouse Brown; 1854-1938) was an America professor, author, and musician from Virginia. She was educated in the United States and Germany before settling in Los Angeles. In addition to teaching at various colleges, Rittenhouse Brown founded and directed several educational institutions, and authored The English Grammar Blue Book. She was especially known for her theory of the correlation of music and linguistics as kindred modes of self-expression. Her parents were Rev. John Allen and Amanda (Christy) Brown.

She had her first instruction in piano from her mother, who had been taught by Ehrlich and Kullak. At the age of eight, she began studying with Henri Lippert of the University of Virginia. At twelve, Brown went to Boston for piano with William Hall Sherwood and organ with George Whiting. She was a graduate of Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University), and post-graduate of Bryn Mawr College. She spent two years at Stuttgart Conservatory of Music. In Leipzig, she studied with Carl Reinecke (three years), and had harmony training with Ernst Richter.

The Rittenhouse Brown School of English, Music, and Travel, a private school with branches at Blanchard Hall, and at Mrs. Brown's home, opened in 1909. The following year, she organized the English Study Club, and served as its president for at least nine years. She also served as president of the Los Angeles American College Club in 1923, whose purpose was to pursue systematic study along lines of self-development and of literary appreciation. In later years, Rittenhouse Brown created a music appreciation studio in Hollywood.

Rittenhouse Brown was author of standard works on English usage,

Personal life In Boston, in 1897, she married Prof. Dwight Rittenhouse. They traveled extensively throughout Europe, living in Athens for some time.

Sara Rittenhouse Brown died in Santa Monica, California, on April 20, 1938.

Selected works English Grammar Blue Book, 1912