Grace Eleanor Hadow (born Cirencester, England 1875–1940) was an author, Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford University and vice-chairman of the Women's Institute (WI).[1]
In 1888, Grace Hadow won a scholarship to study at Brownshill Court School, Stroud, England. In 1894 she went to Germany for two years to study language and music. From 1899 to 1900 she taught at Cheltenham Ladies' College. In 1900 she began studies in English at Somerville College Oxford University. As a woman she was not allowed to sit exams or to receive a degree. She became president of the Women's Debating Society.
In 1903, she went to teach at Bryn Mawr in the United States and returned to Somerville College in 1904 to work as a don. During the First World War, she was a member of the War Agricultural Committee and founded the Gloucestershire Women's Institute (WI). In 1918, she was closely involved in the formation of the constitution of the WI in participation with Lady Denham.
In 1921, she wrote the first edition of the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) handbook. In 1938, she was the only British woman delegate at the British Commonwealth Relations conference in Australia. In 1939, she was President of the Oxfordshire Federation.
During her life, Grace Hadow climbed both the Matterhorn and a side of the Fletschorn that no other women had ever climbed on before.
She died in 1940. The hymn Jerusalem was sung at her funeral.
An award has been founded in her honour, known as the Grace Hadow Award.