Women Engineering Legends 1952-1976:

This book offers a concise history of 25 legendary women who made significant contributions to engineering and were recognized for their work by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) between 1952 and 1976. In addition, the book provides a backdrop of the cultural and technical advances that led up to the time they were recognized. The book includes inspiring stories of their engineering career achievements and the legacies of how these women made a difference in the world. Set against a backdrop of important cultural and technology milestones, each chapter stands on its own as a complete story of a specific legendary engineer. Viewed as a group, these 25 technological luminaries provide an important perspective about women in the engineering and computer science fields. Each section represents a five-year increment, beginning with a setting-the-stage discussion, followed by the stories of the five engineers who were recognized during those years, which can also be read independently.

Introduction. - SWE as an organization, formation, Award genesis. - Section I: 1952 - 1956. - Before Sputnik Post WWII Influences. - 1952: Maria Telkes. - 1953: Elsie Gregory MacGill. - 1954: Edith Clarke. - 1955: Margaret Hutchinson. - 1956: Elise Harmon. - Section 2: 1957 - 1961. - Space Race Begins and Aerospace Grows, Electronics Industry forms. - 1957: Rebecca Sparling. - 1958: Mabel Rockwell. - 1959: Desiree le Beau. - 1960: Esther Conwell. - 1961: Laurel van der Wal. - Section 3: 1962 - 1966. - 1962: Laurence Delisle Pellier. - 1963: Beatrice Hicks. - 1964: Grace Murray Hopper. - 1965: Martha Thomas. - 1966: Dorothy Martin Simon. - Section 4: 1967 - 1971. - Technology Grows, Software Rises, Women' s Rights Grow. - 1967: Marguerite Rogers. - 1968: Isabella Karle. - 1969: Alice Stoll. - 1970: Irmgard Flugge-Lotz. - 1971: Alva Matthews. - Section 5: 1972 - 1976. - Title IX, Personal Computers, Miniaturization. - 1972: Nancy Fitzroy. - 1973: Irene Carswell Peden. - 1974: Barbara Crawford Johnson. - 1975: Sheila Widnall. - 1976: Ada Pressman. - Conclusion.