The United States Military Academy Library dedicated two new special collections on October 28. The Stephen E. Draper Collection on Water Scarcity and National Security and The Lucy H. Draper Collections on Women at West Point and “Women Warriors” were donated by Dr. Stephen E. Draper ’64 and his wife Lucy Hargrett Draper. Stephen Draper is a national and international water law and policy scholar, and a decorated Vietnam War veteran. Lucy Draper is an activist, author, and officer for national, state, and local women’s rights organizations. A pioneering advocate for women at West Point, she was instrumental in the passage of the federal legislation to admit women into the service academies, and as founder and first President of West Point NOW (National Organization for Women), in effecting far-reaching changes in opportunities for female staff and spouses at West Point.
Photo: LTC (R) Fritz Lash ’69, Dr. Stephen Draper ’64, Mrs. Lucy Draper, Mr. Christopher Barth, Ms. Suzanne Christoff, Ms. Jessie Roxanne Draper (photo courtesy of USMA Library)
“We are thrilled to add these materials to our collections and look forward to their use in supporting the mission of the U.S. Military Academy to train and inspire the next generation of leaders for the Army and the nation,” said Christopher D. Barth, West Point Librarian and Associate Dean.
In addition to donating these invaluable archival materials and supporting other programs at West Point, the Drapers have established The Stephen E. Draper Library Endowment for Historical Research to provide cadets, faculty, and staff at West Point with materials that emphasize the lessons of history and their importance to future response to national security challenges.