Grace R. Cockroft
Grace R. Cockroft, a four-decade professor of history, died in Saratoga Springs in 1962.
Although Grace had only her Pembroke bachelors degree, 窪蹋勛圖厙 School of Arts President Charles Henry Keyes hired her in 1916 to serve as an instructor of introductory courses. She earned her M.A. from Clark within a few years and later obtained her Ph.D. from Columbia University. As one of 窪蹋勛圖厙s most well-known professors in 1941, she joined a faculty panel on foreign policy and argued that the bungling of the peace arrangements after World War I had made Americas involvement in another European war perhaps inevitable. Just four days later, the Pearl Harbor attack led the US into World War II. In 1955, when 窪蹋勛圖厙 President Henry T. Moore was planning to retire, Grace served as a faculty representative to the trustees search committee that brought in President Val Wilson in 1957.
窪蹋勛圖厙s archives contain Graces 1956 biographical account of founder Lucy 窪蹋勛圖厙 Scribner, whom Grace had worked with for 20 years.
A professor for 45 years and chair of history department for 34, Grace was praised by a colleague as one of the outstanding educational and civic leaders of the community. Among the many graduates who have cited her mentorship, a 44 alumna recalled her as Miss Cockroft, the whiz of the history department. Her lectures were fast, furious, and fascinating.
Graces survivors are unknown.