Grace Flandrau
Grace H. Flandrau Trust
Grace Flandrau was a literary star, born and raised in Saint Paul. Between 1922 and 1955, she published six books—two were international best sellers, and three were made into movies. Flandrau also published short stories, articles and travel essays in all of the major literary publications of the day. A true local celebrity, she also had her own radio show and a weekly column in the St. Paul Dispatch.
Although Flandrau was a jet-setter, traveling and living around the world, she never forgot her Saint Paul roots and created the Grace Flandrau Trust at The Saint Paul Foundation to benefit her hometown for generations to come.
Today, her Trust continues her legacy in ways not even she might have imagined. Grants from the Trust honor her original interests while addressing the pressing needs and opportunities of today.
Her Impact
Established in 1972 with $46,140, the Grace H. Flandrau Trust has made 132 grants totaling $2.3 million. Today the Trust is worth $2.6 million.
Her Life
- Flandrau spent six months exploring Africa in the 1930s. She wrote a best-selling book and lectured widely about her experiences.
- She dedicated her life to the arts and was part of a group of Jazz Age artists that pushed the boundaries of artistic convention.
- As a woman who found success in a man’s world, Flandrau was a strong proponent of women’s rights and self-determination.
Her Legacy
- Today, her Trust supports the work of the African Development Center of Minnesota, helping African immigrants to build strong and stable lives in the community.
- Keeping with her love of the arts, Flandrau’s legacy supports the Actors Theatre of Minnesota, which opens its performance spaces to experimental artists.
- The Minnesota Women’s Consortium, a statewide collective of organizations working for women’s equality and justice, benefits today from Flandrau’s flair for life.
