Sara Chapman Thorp Bull

Born in Wisconsin in 1850, she was the daughter of Joseph G. Thorp, a lumber businessman and politician. In 1870 she married the celebrated Norwegian violinist Ole Bull, and after his death she helped preserve his legacy, including writing a memoir about him.

She became well known in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for hosting a lively salon that brought together musicians, scholars, and religious thinkers. Her home became a meeting place for people interested in culture and new ideas, and she was especially noted for her friendship with and support of Swami Vivekananda during his years in the United States.

Sara Chapman Thorp Bull died in 1911. She is remembered not only through her connection to a famous musician, but also for the way she used her position and resources to encourage artistic and intellectual life across national boundaries.