Errett McLeod Graham (1877-1974) was a civil engineer for various railroads. He was married to Helena "Lena" Washburn Graham (1881-1970) for nearly sixty-six years. Helena Graham was a homemaker to the couple's three children. The Grahams spent the early years of their marriage in remote railroad construction camps and small towns in Tennessee and West Virginia before settling in Rensselaer, Indiana, for several years while Errett commuted to Chicago to work for Monon Railroad.

Both Grahams were born and raised in Indiana. Errett graduated from Butler University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1905. The Grahams were married in 1904. Errett worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company from 1901 until at least through 1912.

Errett retired from railroads in 1939. The Grahams lived in Seattle, Washington, in 1940, and in 1941 moved to Shaw Island, Washington, where they remained. During retirement, Errett took up a second career as a land surveyor for twenty-five years and was the San Juan County engineer for twelve of those years. Helena Graham taught herself illuminated manuscript lettering and gifted her work to members of the community.