Chester Graham, director of the Ashland Folk School, state supervisor of the WPA Workers Education in Wisconsin, field worker and director of organization for the National Farmers Union, field representative for the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and cooperative leader and activist, was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1892. He was graduated from Oberlin College in 1917 and was awarded his Masters degree in Education by the University of Illinois in 1926.
On June 16, 1921 Graham married Margaret Rutledge. They had five children: James, Frank, Martha, Lois, and Donald. Margaret died in childbirth in 1939. On February 6, 1944, Graham married Viola Jo Kreiner. They had three children: Laurie and twins Jean and Jere.
An ardent social activist Graham began his employment in the Americanization program in the Akron, Ohio, public schools, 1920-1925. From there he moved to the Pocono People's College, Henryville, Pennsylvania, where he was the associate director, 1926-1927; and to the Ashland Folk School, Grant, Michigan, where he was the resident director, 1928-1938. From 1938 until 1968 he lived in Madison, Wisconsin. During these years, he was involved in Farmers Union activities at the local, state, regional, and national levels. His work with the Friends Committees began in 1947 with the Committee on National Legislation. From 1948-1955 he broadcast a daily 30-minute farm radio program in North Dakota.
Throughout his career Graham continued to hold many positions as a volunteer on cooperative boards, anti-war organizations, farmers' groups, and civil organizations. The cooperative boards were particularly important since he felt that the cooperative movement is the only solution to economic problems.
