Anna Leopold June 17, 1925-March 6, 2022 Anna Leopold was born in Altoona in 1925, the daughter of William P. and Eliza (Imler) Shaefer. She married Louis E. Leopold (1922-2009) in 1947. They had two children, John (1948-2021) and Louise of Hollidaysburg. She had one granddaughter, Ellen, and four great-grandchildren all living in Ventura, California

She was a 1942 graduate of Altoona High School and earned a PH. B and an MA from the University of Chicago. She taught Sociology at Penn State Altoona for eleven years, doing research in industrial and community relations and modern community trends. With her husband, she exhibited original photographs throughout the United States in support of visual social science as an instructional tool.

For many years she was an active member of the Altoona-Blair County Photo Society, receiving the Sheldon Burns Photographer of the year four times. She was a member of Photographic Society of America and its Anglo-American International Slide Circuit and wrote for the PSA Journal. She authored a book, co-wrote another, and wrote and edited a number of publications. With her husband, she wrote and photographed the Wayfarers column for Westsylvania, the regional heritage/lifestyle magazine. She took part in more than 500 photo exhibits across the Northeastern United States.

Her professional associations included American Sociological Associations, International Visual Sociology Association, and the Society for Industrial Archeology, presenting papers at a number of conferences. Other long-term memberships included: American Canal Society, Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, Art in Common, Blair County Historical Society, Blair County Arts Foundation, Friends of the Altoona Area Public Library, Rails-to-Trails of Central Pennsylvania, Altoona High and University of Chicago Alumni Associations.

She was honored for service by the Borough of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania Department of Community Service, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission, the Allegheny Ridge Corporation, the Blair County Convention and Visitors Bureau, was named to the Phoenix Society of the University of Chicago for supporting the school’s mission. In 2003, the Blair County Historical Society awarded the Leopold’s their Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2007 they were named Altoona Kiwanis Citizens of the Year.

She was a past president of the former Blair County Branch, American Association of University Women, and a member of the AAUW Arts Study Group which, under the leadership of Judy Pollock, spearheaded the founding of the Blair County Arts Foundation. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women, 17th edition.

Anna enjoyed her family, crossword puzzles, mystery novels, regional heritage, teaching, photography, writing non-fiction, designing and knitting sweaters.

A celebration of the life of Anna Leopold will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 2:00 pm at The Stevens Mortuary, Inc., 1421 8th Avenue, Altoona, Pa. 16602. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made in Anna’s memory to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be made at www.stevensfamilyfuneralhomes.com or Stevens Family Funeral Homes Facebook.