Opening tea lecture focuses on Dunkirk native
Trending
The Fredonia Shakespeare Club opened its 2026-27 season with the traditional tea on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Daisy Farm in Fredonia. The area of study for presentations this year is "Notable New Yorkers," and in keeping with that theme, speaker Katherine Szewczuk, Vice President & Curator for the Dunkirk Historical Museum, spoke on notable New Yorker Edna A. "Betty" Boorady.
Boorady was an American lawyer and diplomat born in Dunkirk. Miss Boorady graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Dunkirk in 1938, Fordham University in 1951, and the Cornell Law School in 1954. She was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), founded in 1961 to counter the influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War by means of soft power, using culture, political values, and foreign policies to enact change. Boorady was the first woman to direct an overseas mission of the USAID.
Boorady was awarded the Federal Woman's Award in 1974, a U.S. government honor highlighting the achievements of women in executive, professional, scientific, or technical roles across the federal career service and to encourage young women to join government service. She retired in 1986 and worked to establish the Boorady Reading Center in Dunkirk and was active in the League of Women Voters and the New York State Bar Association. Boorady died at the age of 87 in 2008.
The Fredonia Shakespeare Club is a historic literary and social club established in 1885 and has been unbroken since October,1886. Traditionally consisting of a dedicated group of members (historically around 20), the Club holds regular meetings, teas, lectures, and an annual picnic. Beyond studying Shakespeare and literature, the Club explores diverse historical, cultural, and global themes (such as UNESCO World Heritage sites, music histories, and local history) and attends regional theatrical productions. Current officers are Ms. Gail Crowe, President, Ms. Susan Westling, Vice President, Ms. Cheryll Rogers, Secretary, and Ms. Lisa Mertz, Treasurer. Meetings are generally held each Thursday afternoon.