Remembering Barbara: 1932-2024

April 2024

By Karen James

Barbara Drageaux was born in Seattle in the summer of 1932, the first in a family of seven. In 1952, after she worked her way through the University of  Washington, she married Paul and settled in Portland, Oregon. She was a  devoted teacher in public schools throughout the city and a lifelong  supporter of the OEA/NEA. Her love of children carried on throughout her life. 

After 20 years her marriage ended, and when her husband married another woman (also named Barbara), she said, “I spent 20 years with my father’s name and 20 years with my husband’s name, so now I want to have my mother’s name.” She thereafter was reimagined as a unique “Dragoo”. 

Her work for the rights of the most vulnerable among us took her as far as Argentina to seek ways to help others. She was a tireless, prominent member  of the Portland branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. For years Barbara attended weekly vigils in Pioneer Courthouse  Square where she distributed literature to educate the public about WILPF’s  many issues. She staffed the branch office and often contributed to its  monthly newsletter as well as writing numerous letters to elected officials and newspaper editors.

Barbara participated in WILPF national and regional gatherings. An advocate for peace and universal disarmament, she marched in protest of militarism and war. Barbara worked to bring recognition of the impact of armed conflict on women and the contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building. She stressed the importance of women’s equal and full participation as active agents in peace and security negotiations. Closer to home, she led a group to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington, where she planted balsamroot plants, the “Oregon Sunflower”, as a peaceful protest opposing Handford’s continued operations.

In 1995 she organized a Portland city-wide parade celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of Woman Suffrage. Barbara  designed a ‘75 years’ logo to commemorate the event. She invited  women to ‘teas’ to write their own resolutions for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and to mark the 1848 tea party that launched the campaign for women’s vote.

Her art and creativity were evident at numerous WILPF activities and events and in 1999 she joined the Seattle WTO protests dressed as a sea turtle! She was a friend, mentor and inspiration to her many WILPF friends.

As a feminist historian, Barbara’s well-researched knowledge of women and  their achievements, no matter how great or small, was extensive and  remarkable. With her close friend Mary Rose, she traveled throughout the US, teaching women’s history to children. She researched the Portland School  District Superintendent Ellen Sabin and held Eleanor Roosevelt, Pauli Murray and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in high esteem. She was relentless in her efforts and support of women’s rights and encouraged others to learn about  women who made history in their communities. 

More recently, Barbara was known to thoroughly read The New York Times newspaper, after which she would share with her neighbor who found the name and image of a certain recent US president totally redacted with black ink!  

An avid gardener, her many flowers and trees brought joy to her neighbors  and passers-by whom she greeted with her warm and welcoming smile. 

Barbara is survived by her sister Marylin, brother Donald and her two sons, Howard and Dan. Her family and many friends are proud of Barbara, grateful for her friendship and will hold dear our many memories.