ABOUT LOUISE H. GALLOP

Louise H. Gallop was born November 6, 1922 in Manhattan, New York City.  She studied anthropology at Hunter College, from which she graduated in 1944. After earning a master's degree in 1953, Louise taught seven years in the Queens, New York public school  system.

She first visited Alaska in 1959, the year the territory became the 49th state. Two years later, she left New York to settle in the Last Frontier's largest city, Anchorage. Louise continued her career at Rabbit Creek Elementary School, where she taught for 18 years before retiring from the Anchorage School District (ASD) in 1978. A gifted writer and poet, Louise served as a judge for ASD's long-running Pencils Full of Stars program, featuring an annually published book of student poetry. 

Louise became involved in the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in the late 1960s. In the mid-1970s she wrote and edited the monthly mimeographed AUUF LOG newsletter.  Louise regularly attended the fellowship's late morning services. She joined the AUUF Alliance group and was engaged in many of its volunteer efforts, particularly enjoying the interactive role of cashier for The Alliance Christmas Bazaar and Rummage Sale.

Louise also belonged to the Pioneers of Alaska and was active in the organization of women educators, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She was a docent and volunteer at the Anchorage Museum for 34 years, conducting her last tour in 2012 at age 89.  Louise was a philanthropist, giving generously to the museum, fellowship, and to many other organizations with a focus on social service and environmental justice. 

Louise moved from her east Anchorage condo to the Anchorage Pioneers Home a few weeks after her 90th birthday on November 6, 2012.   In January 2013, AUUF threw a special party to honor Louise and six other  nonagenarian members.  Louise died later that year on August 6.

The following documents offer an intimate glimpse of Louise Gallop, the woman, through recollections by her AUUF friends, through her poetry and through a compilation of observations and facts about her life. 

• Recollections from Fellowship Friends - memories and observations from four AUUF women who befriended Louise and engaged in activities with her at the fellowship and elsewhere. 

• Selected and Favorite Poems by Louise -  Several poems written by Louise, selected by her admirers and friends at AUUF.

• Louise Gallop, the Woman:  Known Facts and Observations - compilation of personal recollections, biographical and other information gleaned from a variety of sources and people