Women Who “Transformed the Landscape of America in Enduring
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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: Clare Boothe Luce, founder of a scholarship endowment for women studying and doing research in science and engineer- 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; Temple Grandin, 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 Management 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-1990s, 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 professor 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 10 SWE CONFERENCE 2017 10-14 News-Hall of Fame.AP.indd 10 10/7/17 12:08 AM NEWS & ADVOCACY | DEPARTMENTS 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 Finger Lakes 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 Gloria Steinem; 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 Lorraine Hansberry. 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, Elizabeth Cady Stanton 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. Bella Abzug, J.D., feminist politician, mosomal changes, she got little more remember our history and everything is there; and Jane Addams, pioneering than a “pat on the head.” that happened in 1848. The NWH of social worker; Rachel Carson, environ- 12 SWE CONFERENCE 2017 10-14 News-Hall of Fame.AP.indd 12 10/7/17 12:08 AM NEWS & ADVOCACY | DEPARTMENTS 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; Rosa Parks, civil rights leader; website at www.womenofthehall.org.) of Fame anymore?’ We focus on what and Judith Pipher, Ph.D., astrophysicist.