American Society of Women Engineers and Architects Records
Collection
Identifier: LR001802
The American Society of Women Engineers collection includes correspondence related to Melton’s and Counts’ 1919-1920 female engineering enrollment survey; early membership application, constitution, newsletter and correspondence of the American Society of Women Engineers and Architects; incoming and outgoing correspondence of Elsie Eaves; and a copy of University of Michigan graduate Alice Goff’s 1946 publication, Women Can Be Engineers.
Important Subjects: American Society of Women Engineers and Architects Engineering Engineering—Societies, etc. Engineering—Vocational guidance Engineering students—United States Engineers Women—Employment—United States Women—Societies and Clubs—United States Women engineering students Women engineers Women in engineering
Important Names: Hilda Counts Elsie Eaves Alice Goff Lou Alta Melton
Important Subjects: American Society of Women Engineers and Architects Engineering Engineering—Societies, etc. Engineering—Vocational guidance Engineering students—United States Engineers Women—Employment—United States Women—Societies and Clubs—United States Women engineering students Women engineers Women in engineering
Important Names: Hilda Counts Elsie Eaves Alice Goff Lou Alta Melton
Dates
- 1919 - 1946
Creator
- Counts, Hilda (Person)
Language of Materials
Material entirely in English.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Use
Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library
Rules for Use of Archival Materials.
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (1 MB)
Abstract
Following World War I and prior to the incorporation of the Society of Women Engineers in 1950, a small group of women created the American Society of Women Engineers and Architects, a professional network to support working women engineers and counsel young women interested in pursuing engineering as a profession.
The American Society of Women Engineers and Architects Collection includes correspondence related to early members Lou Alta Melton and Hilda Counts' 1919 female engineering college enrollment survey; newsletter and correspondence of the American Society of Women Engineers and Architects; correspondence to and from member Elsie Eaves; and a copy of Alice Goff's 1946 publication, Women Can Be Engineers.
The American Society of Women Engineers and Architects Collection includes correspondence related to early members Lou Alta Melton and Hilda Counts' 1919 female engineering college enrollment survey; newsletter and correspondence of the American Society of Women Engineers and Architects; correspondence to and from member Elsie Eaves; and a copy of Alice Goff's 1946 publication, Women Can Be Engineers.
History
Following World War I, and prior to the founding and incorporation of a national Society of Women Engineers, graduate women in engineering and architecture created a small professional network, eventually calling themselves the American Society of Women Engineers and Architects. Two early leaders included Lou Alta Melton and Hilda Counts, both graduates of the University of Colorado-Boulder. Their efforts to survey female students enrolled in college-level engineering and architecture courses resulted in one of the earliest national enrollment surveys of women in engineering.
Other early pioneers, such as University of Colorado graduate Elsie Eaves, counseled and advised young women interested in pursuing careers in science and technology. Eaves also assisted in providing information on successful female engineers to various organizations, and eventually gained a reputation as a center of information on women in engineering. A SWE charter member, for a number of years she served as Archives Chair for the national Society of Women Engineers following its founding in the early 1950s.
Other early pioneers, such as University of Colorado graduate Elsie Eaves, counseled and advised young women interested in pursuing careers in science and technology. Eaves also assisted in providing information on successful female engineers to various organizations, and eventually gained a reputation as a center of information on women in engineering. A SWE charter member, for a number of years she served as Archives Chair for the national Society of Women Engineers following its founding in the early 1950s.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged in chronological order by subject.
Acquisition
Deposited with the national Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Archives in 1994.
Other Copies
The collection, excepting folder 9, has been digitized and is available as PDF files in the Reuther Library’s digital repository.
Processing History
Processed and finding aid written by Lura Smith on April 10, 2014.
Creator
- Counts, Hilda (Person)
- Eaves, Elsie (Person)
- Melton, Lou Alta (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the American Society of Women Engineers and Architects Records
- Status
- completed
- Author
- Processed by Lura Smith.
- Date
- 2014-04-10
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Walter P. Reuther Library Repository
Contact:
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA