Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will receive a “Women in American History Award” from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in recognition of her many contributions to the field of American history. The annual award celebrates outstanding contributions by women who serve as an example and inspiration to their communities in an educational, religious, scientific or cultural endeavor, and the honorees are permanently archived at the national DAR American history website.
The award will be presented by the Cranes’ Ford chapter of the DAR at noon on Saturday, March 10 in a ceremony at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue in Cranford.
“History challenges us to recognize the many elements that come together from the past to inform the present,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I am deeply honored to be recognized with this award and I am especially grateful for the continuing opportunity to explore the role of women who continue to shape our nation today.”
The NSDAR award recognizes Ms. Rajoppi as the author of the book, Northern Women in the Aftermath of the Civil War, and as the first woman to serve as Union County Clerk and the first woman elected to the Springfield municipal council. Ms. Rajoppi is also a former Mayor of Springfield, former Union County Freeholder and first woman Freeholder Chairman, and former New Jersey Assistant Secretary of State.
Ms. Rajoppi’s other published works include Women in Office: Getting There and Staying There, and New Brunswick and the Civil War: The Brunswick Boys in the Great Rebellion.
Among other projects, Ms. Rajoppi curates and produces an annual illustrated historical calendar commemorating significant people and events in and around Union County, and coordinates exhibits in the historic Union County Courthouse Rotunda including the four-year Civil War Sesquicentennial series.
In 2016 Ms. Rajoppi received the 2016 National eRecording All-Star Trailblazer Award for demonstrating leadership in the use of electronic recording technology. She is a six-time recipient of the National Association of Counties Award for innovative government and computerization, a recipient of the prestigious Gill C. Job Award from the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey, and former president of the New Jersey Association of Counties and the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers.
For information about NSDAR and the Women in American History Award, contact Mary Leonard, mjr65@comcast.net.
The Crane’s Ford NSDAR chapter was chartered on March 7, 1944 by the National Society. Membership is open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American Independence. The chapter currently has 56 members. They are a volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and historic preservation through commemorative events, scholarships and service to veterans.
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