Barbara was the founder and first President of St. Joseph Preservation, Inc.

"She inspired extraordinary women and men to work together to sustain St. Joseph' legacy. Her most enduring achievement was her success nurturing that effort, with grace and tenacity, forming strong partnerships with new generations, including some of St. Joseph's most outstanding women."

Source: St. Joseph News-Press Obituary, 07 Dec 2011

Barbara Ide

1916 - 2011

"Historic St. Joseph would look very different today if Barbara Blake Ide had not lived." She died November 15, 2011 in St. Joseph, surrounded by family and friends. Barbara helped to save the Buchanan County Courthouse, Robidoux Row, Patee Market, Warehouse Row, and the Hall Street Historic District. She inspired extraordinary women and men to work together to sustain St. Joseph's legacy. Her most enduring achievement was her success nurturing that effort, with grace and tenacity, forming strong partnerships with new generations, including some of St. Joseph's most outstanding women. Barbara was born March 8, 1916, in Charles City, Iowa, the daughter of George Andrew Blake and Cecilia Jessen Blake. Her brother, Gordon Aylesworth Blake, was a West Point graduate who became a Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force and the Director of the National Security Agency. Barbara was educated at Stevens College and at Grinnell College. In 1942 she married Lucien Ide and moved with him to St. Joseph in 1948, where she became an integral part of the community. In 1969, Barbara began playing what became her indispensable role preserving St. Joseph's historic architecture. Barbara's efforts were recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who invited her to address its National Convention and published her remarks in its journal. Barbara was the founder and first President of St. Joseph Preservation, Inc. and was honored in 1988 with their Excellence in Preservation award. She also was recognized with the Missouri Preservation Alliance Rozier Award (1994), the Sertoma Club to Mankind Award (1996), the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors's Home Award(1996), the St. Joseph Landmarks Commission and St. Joseph Preservation, Inc Lifetime Achievement Award(2000), the St. Joseph Historical Society Robidoux Award(2006). Barbara was singled out for special honors at the Missouri Preservation Alliance state conference in 2006 and, in 2008, she received the YWCA Women of Excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to her work in historic preservation, Barbara contributed greatly to St. Joseph's social fabric as an active member and often as a Board member and President, of organizations including the Runcie Club, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter BP, the St. Joseph Historical Society, Questors, the Junior League, and the First Presbyterian Church. Barbara is survived by three children: Gordon, Fred, and Susan; their spouses; six grandchildren; two grandsons-in-law; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on December 10 at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Joseph, where Barbara was a member for 60 years together with her husband of 66 years, Dr. Lucian Waterman Ide, who predeceased her in 2008. The family requests that, in lieu of sending flowers in Barbara's memory, contributions be made to the First Presbyterian Church.

"Historic St. Joseph would look very different today if Barbara Ide had not lived-" obituary listed in News Press, Nov. 15, 2011. Barbara helped to save the Buchanan County Courthouse, Robidoux Row, Patee Market, and the historic Hall Street Historic District. She inspired and mentored many current historians.