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History
Lilace Reid Barnes, the daughter of Clifford Barnes (1864-1944) and Alice Reid (1866-1938), was born in 1900 and followed her family's pioneering spirit of generosity throughout her life. Most notably, she accomplished much as first American World President of the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) and with also her later involvement at Lake Forest College.
Initially, she began her work with the YWCA in 1926 as a volunteer secretary and soon joined the YWCA national board leading to her eventually rise as the 1947 World President of the International YWCA meeting in China. She held this office in Geneva, Switzerland until 1955. Upon her return to the United States, she was chosen to serve as the head of the YWCA US National Board until 1961 playing a strong role on local, national, and international stages of the organization.
Lilace directly continued to show her propensity for leadership roles as she was the first woman on the Lake Forest College Board Trustees in 1944 and served until 1962. In 1968, she was made an honorary life member and her name holds import on campus at the Lilace Reid Barnes Interfaith Center and with the donation of Reid Barnes collection to the Library Archives and Special Collections. She died in Lake Forest at the age of 89 in 1989.