The January meeting and 95th Anniversary celebration of the Manhattan branch of AAUW was held at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and featured Linda Duke, director of the museum. Duke’s talk focused upon “Women Artists You Should Know.” She gave a wonderful, visual introduction to three artists whose work is held in the museum collection: Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton, Patricia DuBose Duncan, and Shirley Smith.

The Manhattan branch of AAUW was not chartered by National AAUW until 1924, but first met in Manhattan in 1920, thus the group is now in its 95th year. In 1960 the Manhattan branch had over 300 members. It’s fitting that the branch celebrate 95 years while at the museum. In 1934, the K-State Friends of Art formed as an outgrowth of an art lecture series sponsored by the our local branch of AAUW. Now known as the Friends of the Beach Museum of Art, the group was established to raise funds for the acquisition and care of work in the museum’s permanent collection.

The next Manhattan AAUW branch meeting will be held at the First Congregational Church, 700 Poyntz Avenue, 6pm, Monday, February 8th. The meeting will feature a program titled “ Women in STEM–a Good Fit” by Cindy Wallace-Lage, who works as a vice-president for Black and Veatch. She works internationally in water conservation.

Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.