Ladies in Leadership
September 9, 2010
From the collection of the Archives & Museum, Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation.
Established in 1927, the Women’s Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association was a valuable partner in promoting optometric vision care and educating the public.
Officers for the 1964-65 program year included (seated): Mrs. Richard (Bertha) Whitfield, President; (standing, from left): Mrs. Howard (Mary Jane) Fields; Mrs. B.B. (Tess) Sullivan; Mrs. Howard (Jeanne) Winton; and Mrs. James (Laverne) Spencer.
During President Whitfield’s term of office, an Auxiliary office was established and the records centralized, membership grew to more than 4,000, and Volunteers for Vision (their contribution to Project Head Start) was started.
Through much of their early history, members of the Women’s Auxiliary went by their husband’s names so we do not know their given names! None of the lists of officers in the Auxiliary history books and very few other writings document first names.
If you are interested in helping us improve these incomplete records or identifying unlabeled photos, contact Linda at the Archives & Museum of Optometry (LJDraper@aoa.org).
