Jacqueline Noel loved books.
She worked in a library.
She helped build new libraries for people.
She also helped name a sweet candy.
It is called Almond Roca.
Do you like sweet treats?
Jacqueline Noel was a librarian in Washington.
She worked in the city of Tacoma. She helped build many new libraries. She even found money to build them.
Jacqueline also helped name a sweet treat. A maker made a new candy. It had chocolate and nuts.
She told him to call it Almond Roca. This name means rock in Spanish. People still eat this candy today. She was a very helpful leader.
Jacqueline Noel was a leader in Tacoma, Washington. She worked as a librarian for many years.
Jacqueline grew up in Washington, D.C. Her family moved to Tacoma in 1889. When she was ten, she joined a group called the Mary Lampheer Society. This group studied American history. Later, Jacqueline went to school in New York City. She graduated from the Pratt Institute in 1913.
Jacqueline returned to the Pacific Northwest to work. She worked in Oregon before joining the Tacoma Public Library. In 1924, she became the city librarian. She helped build many new branch libraries. She even raised money from citizens to build two of them.
Jacqueline also helped name a famous candy. Two men made a new chocolate treat with almonds. It did not make a mess when people ate it. They did not have a name for it yet. Jacqueline suggested the name Almond Roca. The word "roca" is Spanish for rock. This name fits the hard shape of the candy. The candy became very popular. The U.S. military sent it to soldiers during World War II.
Jacqueline Noel was a very busy woman. She lived a life full of many different jobs. She was a leader for libraries in Washington State. She also helped name a famous candy.
People remember her for her work with books. She also helped people learn about history. Her ideas changed how people used libraries.
Jacqueline learned a lot about history very young. Her family moved to Tacoma in 1889. In 1896, she was only ten years old. At that age, she was the secretary for the Mary Lampheer Society. This group was the first chapter of the Children of the American Revolution in Washington. They studied papers about the American Revolution. They wanted to celebrate important historical events.
Jacqueline went to school to learn more. She moved to New York City for college. She graduated from the Pratt Institute in 1913. After that, she moved back to the Pacific Northwest. She worked as an assistant librarian in La Grande and Portland. In July 1924, she joined the Tacoma Public Library staff. She became the city librarian in 1924.
She did a lot of work to help her city. Jacqueline was the driving force for new branch libraries. She wanted more places for people to read. She raised money from citizens to build two branches. These were the McCormick and Mottet branches. By her retirement in 1947, many new branches were opening. Many more were running by the time she died in 1964.
Jacqueline also had a sweet idea. In 1923, two men named Harry Brown and J.C. Haley made a candy. It was hard toffee with chocolate and almonds. It was not as messy as other treats. The men did not have a name for it yet. Jacqueline suggested the name "Almond Roca." The word "roca" is Spanish for rock. This described the hard, log shape of the candy.
Jacqueline Noel was an influential American librarian and historical promoter. She lived from June 28, 1886, until 1964. Her work helped grow the public library system in Washington State. She also played a unique role in the history of American food. Most people know her for naming a famous candy called Almond Roca.
Noel was born in Washington, D.C. Her father was Jacob Edmund Noel. He was a civil engineer and a leader in the Scottish Rite. Her mother was Eleanor Freaneau Leadbeater. In 1889, the family moved to Tacoma, Washington. This move happened when Washington was still a very new state. Jacqueline grew up with one sister named Anita.
Even as a child, Noel was interested in history. In 1896, she was only ten years old. She was elected secretary of the Mary Lampheer Society. This was the first chapter of the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) in Washington. The C.A.R. was a group for young people. It was created by the Fourth Continental Congress in February 1895. The United States Congress even chartered the group. The society studied papers about the American Revolution. They wanted to celebrate important moments in U.S. history.
Noel pursued higher education in New York City. She attended the Pratt Institute to study. She graduated from the institute in 1913. After her studies, she returned to the Pacific Northwest. She worked as an assistant librarian in La Grande, Oregon. She also worked in Portland, Oregon. In July 1924, she joined the Tacoma Public Library staff. She worked in the reference department at first. Soon after, she became the city librarian.
As a librarian, Noel was a very active leader. She served as the chairperson for the Division of Literature. This role was with the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs. She was also the vice-president of the Pacific Northwest Library Association. She held membership in the American Library Association. Noel wanted to make sure more people could access books. She was the driving force behind creating branch libraries in Tacoma. She raised money from local citizens to build specific branches. These were the McCormick and Mottet branches. By her retirement in 1947, many new branches were opening. Many more were running by the time she died in 1964.
Noel also had a surprising connection to the candy industry. In 1923, two confectioners named Harry Brown and J.C. Haley created a new treat. This treat was a chocolate-coated hard toffee. It was covered in a crust of chopped almonds. This design made it less messy than other candies of that time. The men did not have a name for their creation. When Harry Brown showed samples to local people, Noel gave him an idea. She suggested the name "Almond Roca." She used the Spanish word "roca," which means "rock" in English. This name described the hard, log-shaped candy.
The name was very successful for the company. Brown & Haley used Noel's naming style for other products. They developed Cashew Roca, Macadamia Roca, Peppermint Roca, and Mocha Roca. They also made dark chocolate and sugar-free versions. The U.S. Department of War later chose the candy for soldiers. During World War II and the Korean War, tins of Almond Roca were shipped to military facilities around the world.
Throughout her life, Noel was involved in many social groups. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also belonged to the Huguenot Society of America. She was part of the Aloha Club and the Business and Professional Woman's Club. In the 1940s, she lived with Margaret Vildmo. Noel retired from her library career in 1947. She lived until 1964. Her legacy remains in the libraries of Washington and in the candy aisles of stores everywhere.
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