MS01.01.03.B02.F23.070

It is not clearly stated in available records the success of Brady's father's governing in the Sitka region, but it is evident that he emphasized pride of national origin, good citizenship and a rather stern and devout Protestant ethic in the family's upbringing. It is apparent from these findings that service to humanity and integrity of character were preached to the children on a daily basis. Frequent mention is made of sons Sheldon and Hugh, along with daughters Mary and Betty. If there were other children, they were not so frequently mentioned or cited in the limited written sources that are available.
Young Mary Brady seemed enterprising from the beginning. Her mother insisted that she should have a measure of freedom to determine her own direction in life. So she chose to become a journalist. She graduated from Vassar College around the time of the end of World War I, having pursued a major in journalism.
One could see the prudent teachings of Brady's father in the way she handled the Foundation's financial books, the choice of office personnel and her selection of nearly-close friends as well as a very conservative form of dress. Brady kept a close look at the financial books at the Foundation and all but single handedly managed the administrative affairs in house. She inspected all business transactions and asked stern questions of her auditors about their accounting principles, all with the interest of seeing to it that everything was, in her own words, "above board" in the day-to-day operations of the Foundation.
No subject was too obscure to entertain in conversation and none seemed ever to escape
Brady's constant review. One such example, among the many rather lenthy [sic] letters she
wrote trusted friends shows how she gathered information and how she passed it
on to others. The letter begins with the following excerpt:
"I realize that I am giving you gossip, but I have just been
told...." (The letter mentions the name of a program
director (which is deleted here) in the Federal Government and continues very
candidly, "My informant does not think he (the director)
knows a great deal, but thinks he is very influential
there. I thought I would mention this to you so that
you can get your ear to the ground".
Getting one's "ear to the ground" means that one should pursue the
informaton cited.
5. Page 1 of letter from MBB to David Driskell dated 14 February, 1966
(Parenthesis insert are the writer's)