Black History Spotlight: Elaine I. Sprauve

Feb. 15, 2009 — Known by all as Miss Elaine, Elaine Ione Sprauve's name graces St. John's only library.
Ironically, Sprauve had no affiliation with the library other than some time on its Friends of the Library board. However, the Legislature in 1980 decided on this honor because of her long years of government service.
Sprauve, who died Nov. 23, 1997, at age 84, was born on St. Thomas to Louis and Ophalia Sprauve. The family moved to St. John four years later. She attended elementary school on St. John, but went off to St. Thomas to attend and graduate from Charlotte Amalie High School.
She started her government service as a teacher at the Abraham Lincoln School on St. Thomas. The school is now the J. Antonio Jarvis School.
After a stint on St. John as the island's first nursery/kindergarten teacher, in 1945 she joined the administrator's staff as a clerk. She moved up through the ranks to become special assistant to the administrator, often serving as acting administrator when the administrator was away.
Sprauve also served as a part-time deputy collector of U.S. Customs, as well as U.S. Immigration inspector.
Her only child, Jean Gibbs, recalled her mother as very gracious, extremely kind and having a lot of patience.
"She was very involved in her community and her church," Gibbs said.
Sprauve was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church.
Former St. John Administrator Julien Harley, who served long after Sprauve retired, recalled her as a person who would help anybody.
"She was a godsend," Harley said.
Her nephew, Elroy Sprauve, called her a kind, gracious, honorable and brilliant.
"All the superlatives I can think of," he said.
She was a past president of St. John Business and Professional Women, an organization that helped her push younger women forward in their careers and life.
"She was a taskmaster and a disciplinarian," Yvonne Wells said.
Wells, who was a BPW member during Sprauve's time in the organization, said Sprauve was able to get members to do things they didn't know they were able to do.
"She kept us in line," Wells said.
Sprauve was also a member of the League of Women Voters, the St. John July 4th Celebration Committee, the Advisory Board to the Commission on Aging, the Social Welfare Board, the Board of Queen Louise Home for Children, the V.I. Health Association and the Governor's Committee to Employ Physically Handicapped. She was active in the Parent-Teacher Association and the Girl Scouts.
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