Helen Graves Fisk (1895–1986) was an American vocational support executive who was active in service bureaus in Pasadena and

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

from the 1920s. For many years, she was assistant director at the Pasadena Vocation Bureau where she was a close colleague of Winifred M. Hausam.

Biography

Born on July 17, 1895, in Redlands, California, Helen Fisk was the daughter of the pioneering realtor John Proctor Fisk (1857–1945) and his wife Elizabeth Holland (1860–1945). Fisk attended

Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College is a private liberal arts women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It is the oldest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, a group of elite historically women's colleges in the Northeastern United States. ...

in South Hadley, Massachusetts, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1917. After moving to Pasadena in 1922, she became assistant director at the Pasadena Vocation Bureau and the Bureau of Vocational Service of Los Angeles. She served on the boards of several administrative bodies and was active in a wide range of clubs in the Pasadena and Los Angeles areas. Helen G. Fisk died on October 30, 1986, and is buried in

Hillside Memorial Park The Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary is a Jewish cemetery located at 6001 West Centinela Avenue, in Culver City, California. Many Jews from the entertainment industry are buried here. The cemetery is known for Al Jolson's elaborate tomb (desi ...

, Redlands.

Legacy

Established in 1973 by the School of Educational Studies at the

Claremont Graduate University The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private, all-graduate research university in Claremont, California. Founded in 1925, CGU is a member of the Claremont Colleges which includes five undergraduate ( Pomona College, Claremont McKenna ...

, the Winifred Hausam–Helen Fisk Award for Distinction in Higher Education honors outstanding service and academic achievement in higher education. It is presented to a doctoral student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in academic studies, scholarly writing, internship and service to students. The award celebrates the memory of Winifred Hausam and Helen Graves Fisk (1895-1986), both of whom pioneered vocational opportunities for women and contributed to developing professional services for college students.

References

People from Redlands, California 1895 births American women business executives American women in business 1986 deaths Mount Holyoke College alumni Place of death missing 20th-century American women 20th-century American people {{US-edu-bio-stub