Purdue’s Female Founders

Purdue’s Female Founders: The Untold History of Trailblazing Women Faculty chronicles and celebrates the fortitude and achievements of the foremothers of Purdue University. This engaging book offers a collection of profiles of women faculty who, despite profound roadblocks because of their gender, shaped the institution from its beginning in the late 1800s through the latter half of the twentieth century. These are the stories of Purdue women who persevered against the odds to follow their dreams to conduct research and teach; establish departments, schools, and colleges; and blaze paths in a male-dominated culture. Readers will learn about women who faced discrimination but persisted and thrived despite prejudice. These compelling profiles celebrate women in art, science, nutrition, literature, nursing, speech, engineering, fashion design, home economics, family life, psychology, agriculture, health and kinesiology, business, and more. Covering 125 years of university history told through the female lens, this book rightfully honors the many women who helped shape Purdue.