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Home , Beatrice Hicks, Judith Pipher, Lillian Moller Gilbreth, Sheila Widnall

NEWS & ADVOCACY | DEPARTMENTS

Women Who “Transformed the Landscape of America in Enduring Ways” Every two years, the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, where the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in 1848, recognizes American women of exceptional accomplishment. The Hall has inducted 276 women, both contemporary and historical, since its founding in 1969.

By Meredith Holmes, SWE Contributor

mong the 10 women inducted into Athe National Women’s Hall of Fame on Sept. 16, 2017, six are or were involved with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They are: , founder of a scholarship endowment for women studying and doing research in science and - ing; Janet D. Rowley, M.D., the geneticist who established that cancer is a genetic disease and whose research led to targeted therapies that cure 90 percent of certain forms of leukemia; , Ph.D., animal sciences pioneer, Celebrating at the National Women’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Sept. 16, 2017, in Seneca Falls, inventor, and proponent of new ways of New York. From left, Michele Fish, Fish Data Solutions; Carlotta Arthur, Ph.D., current thinking about autism; Victoria Jackson, director of the Clare Boothe Luce Program; Jill Tietjen, P.E., F.SWE, SWE past president and nominator of Clare Boothe Luce; and Jane Daniels, Ph.D., F.SWE, former director of the Clare Boothe Luce Program. catalyst for research and treatment of a rare autoimmune disease; Aimée Mullins, record-setting Paralympic ceremony was in 1973. The Hall has oc- Bayer, Ph.D., has been active with The athlete and promoter of carbon-graphite cupied the ground floor of a repurposed Hall since the mid-, serving as a prosthetic sprinting legs; and Carol A. bank building in the center of Seneca board member in recent years and initi- Mutter, first female three-star general Falls, New York, since 1979 and consists ating a lecture series called “Sentiments in the U.S. Marines and first woman to of a museum that showcases the lives and Declarations.” She is a of be qualified as space commander at U.S. and achievements of women who have women’s studies at Hobart and William Space Command. made important contributions to Ameri- Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. can life, an archive, and curricula and Co-President Eileen Hartmann has HONORING WOMEN’S LIVES AND educational outreach programs. In 2018, been a board member of the NWH of ACCOMPLISHMENTS The Hall will move to a much larger Fame since 2012. She has been active in The mission of the nonprofit National space, now being rehabilitated, in the leadership positions in the American As- Women’s Hall of Fame (NWH of Fame four-story, 16,000-square-foot Seneca sociation of University Women (AAUW) or “The Hall”) is to honor outstanding Knitting Mill, built in 1844. When reno- for many years, and served on the American women in arts, athletics, vations are complete, the Knitting Mill national board. The two organizations business, education, government, building will house exhibits, meeting have very compatible aims. Hartmann humanities, philanthropy, and science. rooms, and event spaces for students and said, “The AAUW is concerned with It is the nation’s oldest membership the general public. equity for women and girls, and The organization and museum dedicated The Hall and its activities are man- Hall is about women’s rights, honoring solely to honoring the achievements aged by the two co-presidents of the the lives of women, and making sure of American women. The Hall was board, in concert with a working board people know about women’s achieve- founded in 1969, and the first induction and small staff. Co-President Betty ments.” Hartmann also pointed out that

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while many inductees are accomplished Clare Boothe Luce’s medal- in several areas, 69 of the total 276 have lion was accepted by her been selected for achievements in sci- granddaughter and namesake, ence and engineering. Clare Luce Abbey, who said her While the NWH of Fame is steeped grandmother was known for her in the history of a particular place, pithy one-liners. “How many Hartmann says they are working to times have you heard someone establish a strong national presence and say, ‘No good deed goes unpun- to engage men and women across the ished?’ My grandmother coined country in their efforts. The induction that phrase. She would have ceremony, held every two years, does loved Twitter.” Abbey added that Eileen Hartmann Betty Bayer, Ph.D. receive national attention. It also draws her grandmother’s wit at times attendees and participants from all over masked her profound commitment to Fame is here to show us the future. The the country, including members of the getting respect for her own achieve- Hall is a museum that looks at women’s Seneca Falls and communi- ments and for those of women lives — past and present — but every ties, high school students, recipients of in general. time we induct a new group, we see how “Keepers of the Flame” awards (women Mamie Hansberry said of her sister many more possibilities there are.” honored by The Hall for career achieve- Lorraine, who achieved many firsts The process by which women are ments), as well as the families and as a playwright before she died at age inducted into The Hall is consciously friends, descendants, and colleagues of 35 more than 50 years ago, “Lorraine democratic — even grassroots: The the inductees. Hansberry smiles on this occasion. Our general public nominates the inductees. Dr. Bayer, who has attended many whole family smiles.” Mamie Hansberry The Hall receives about 200 nomina- induction ceremonies, commented that then introduced the many, highly tions for each biennial induction. Then this year there was unusually strong accomplished family members in atten- a committee of experts in each category camaraderie and energy on the dais and dance, and concluded, “My parents told — arts, athletics, business, education, in the audience. Maybe this was because us, ‘Go out in the world, do the best you humanities, philanthropy, and science of the presence of such luminaries as can, and don’t be afraid.’ And Lorraine — reviews the nominations and selects ; Governor Andrew did that.” 10 to 12 finalists. The criterion for induc- Cuomo, whose mother, Matilda Raffa tion into The Hall is to “Transform the Cuomo, was being inducted; and Mamie “WOMEN’S HISTORY IS AMERICAN landscape of America in enduring ways.” Louise Hansberry, the elder sister of HISTORY” No member of the board or staff has any playwright . Or Two blocks down Fall Street is the say in who is inducted. As Dr. Bayer ob- maybe the excitement was due to 2017 Women’s Rights National Historical served, “I think what’s so beautiful about being the 100th anniversary of women’s Park, a part of the U.S. National Park our induction process is that members of right to vote in New York state. system. Established in 1980, the Park the public are often tapped into women Hartmann observed that, while it was is completely separate from the NWH who have made contributions, but might exciting to witness the living inductees, of Fame, although the two institutions not be widely known. So, The Hall such as Aimée Mullins and Dr. Temple work together on some events and activ- stands as a reminder of the many fields Grandin, speak about their work, it was ities. The Park comprises the Elizabeth of endeavor that don’t necessarily come just as inspiring to hear family members Cady Stanton House, a visitors center, to mind when we think about women.” evoke the women who are no longer and Wesleyan Chapel, the site of the first The full list of inductees is astonish- with us. The granddaughters of Dr. Janet Women’s Rights Convention, and where, ing in the variety and range of the Rowley spoke about her long career at on July 19, 1848, women’s accomplishments. Dr. Bayer The University of Chicago, her devotion read “The Declaration of Sentiments said, “It’s very hard to read through to the intellectual development of her and Resolutions,” the document that all 276 biographies and not see that students, and her collaborative approach launched the women’s rights movement women’s history is American history.” to medical research. They also recalled and articulated the role of women in a Inductees include women who are their grandmother’s account of how, free and equal society. Dr. Bayer said, household names and women whose when she first presented her research “I think of the two Seneca Falls institu- accomplishments few people are aware showing that cancer is caused by chro- tions this way: The Park is here so we of. , J.D., feminist politician, mosomal changes, she got little more remember our history and everything is there; and , pioneering than a “pat on the head.” that happened in 1848. The NWH of social worker; , environ-

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mentalist; Sandra Day O’Connor, first read detailed bios of all 276 inductees, who say, ‘Oh, won’t it be great when we female associate justice of the Supreme visit the National Women’s Hall of Fame don’t need the National Women’s Hall Court; , civil rights leader; website at www.womenofthehall.org.) of Fame anymore?’ We focus on what and , Ph.D., astrophysicist. Dr. Bayer contends that the work of women did, the books they wrote, the SWE members inducted include the the NWH of Fame matters in good times speeches they gave, because, just as Society’s first president, , and bad — that is, both when women are important as having the names of these P.E., as well as , making progress toward equality, and women on display here, is the way our Ph.D.; Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hop- when they are experiencing rollbacks. history is told.” per, Ph.D.; and , Sc.D. (To She said, “I don’t agree with people

Clare Boothe Luce: Trailblazer and Champion of Women in STEM

Clare Boothe Luce was born in think she was very good at seeing the absences for women — where in 1903. Her parents they weren’t getting support.” were not rich, but valued educa- Luce died in 1987, leaving the majority of her estate to The Henry

CARL VECHTEN VAN tion and the arts. She married the Luce Foundation and establishing the Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) wealthy George Tuttle Brokaw in Program to support female students and in science, 1923 and divorced him in 1929. She mathematics, and engineering. She explained her last move into married Henry Luce, publisher and uncharted territory by saying, “I select such fields of endeavor in editor-in-chief of Time in 1935. recognition that women today have already entered medicine, law, As a young woman, Clare Boothe business, and the arts, and in order to encourage more women to Luce was active as a suffragist and enter the fields of science.” supported some left-wing causes, but later became an outspoken The CBL Program is the largest private source of support for women Clare Boothe Luce, journalist, conservative. in STEM. Since 1989, it has awarded 712 grants totaling $179 million playwright, politician, and in to 187 institutions and supported 2,258 individuals. Clare Boothe later years, an advocate for In her long and varied career, Luce Luce was a strong supporter of The Heritage Foundation, a con- women in STEM. was always unapologetic about servative policy institute, and her bequest stipulates that three changing direction. And although she achieved firsts in journal- members of the CBL Program selection committee be appointed by ism, elected , diplomacy, theater, and philanthropy, she was The Heritage Foundation and three by The Luce Foundation. belittled as a lightweight, a woman of privilege who could afford to indulge her whims. Betty Bayer, Ph.D., professor of women’s stud- Jane Daniels, Ph.D., F.SWE, retired as program director of the CBL ies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and co-director of the Program in 2011. Carlotta Arthur, Ph.D., has been director of the CBL National Women’s Hall of Fame, commented, “Clare Boothe Luce Program since 2012. A unique aspect of the CBL Program is that the allowed herself to change her mind, and I think there’s still a way, selection committee chooses the institutions that receive grants. when women do this — about political party affiliation or some- Then those colleges and universities choose the recipients. Dr. thing else — they are challenged in ways that men are not.” Daniels explained, “My responsibilities therefore included estab- lishing an application process that would provide the selection Working her way up at Vanity Fair, Luce became associate editor in committee with information about whether the institution was 1930, the first woman to do so. She left Vanity Fair in 1934 to write likely to provide an environment in which female students and plays. Her satirical play “The Women” opened on Broadway in 1936 faculty members could do their best work.” and was made into a movie in 1939. In the late 1930s, she wrote about the rise of dictators in Germany and Italy, and in 1940, toured As Dr. Daniels pointed out, the CBL Program provides valuable net- . The resulting nonfiction book, Europe in the Spring, was working opportunities for recipients. “We held national conferences published in 1942. that enabled the Clare Boothe Luce professors to meet one another and hear women in science and engineering experts speak on career That same year, she won a seat in Congress, becoming the first development,” she said. The aims of SWE and the CBL Program woman to represent Connecticut in the U.S. House of Representa- dovetail, and as program director, Dr. Daniels initiated the award- tives. Under President Eisenhower, she was U.S. ambassador to Italy, ing of graduate fellowships to SWE, and as director of the Higher the first American woman to represent the to a major Education Program at The Luce Foundation, was able to fund some world power. Reflecting on the many arenas in which Luce was in- special SWE initiatives. fluential, Dr. Bayer said, “Because she was a first in so many ways, I

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