Woman of the Year
On November 12, 1975 the Poughkeepsie Branch held a dinner at the Vassar Alumni House to commemorate the International Women's Year and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of our branch. Eight women were honored for outstanding service to the residents of Dutchess County. Since that time, the Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW has selected a local woman to honor as our Woman of the Year. These women exemplify the goals stated in AAUW's mission statement:
The American Association of University Women advances equity
for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.
Honorees
Frances Drace, Woman of the Year 1975
Honored at the 50th Anniversary of AAUW in 1975
From the program of the celebration of this anniversary:
Miss Drace has been librarian at the Grinnell library in Wappingers Falls for almost 35 years. She has devoted her life to the library. In appreciation of this, the Grinnell Library Board, in 1962 presented her with a trip to England.
When Miss Drace started with the library, it was 1 floor and 30,000 books. How, it is 3 floors and 105,000 books. She was one of the first librarians to start a children's story hour. She received her librarian's degree from Albany State University.