Katherine W. Bracken was one of the few high-ranking female Foreign Service Officers (FSO) for the US Department of State in the late 1950s–1960s.

[9][10] According to Peter B. Swiers, Consular Officer to Athens from 1961 to 1964, Bracken was one of the most well-known examples of women in higher positions on the political/economic side of the State Department.

[7] Bracken was fluent in Greek, Turkish, Persian, and Spanish and was well-renowned for going above and beyond the language expectations of FSOs.

[13] After being assigned to serve as the US Consul General in Istanbul, the Foreign Service Institute proposed Bracken study Turkish at Princeton University in 1953.

[5] Princeton did not accept female students, but did accept Bracken after the dean of FSI threatened to stop sending FSOs to study there, under the condition that Bracken not be granted a degree, nor provided with university housing and facilities.