People have a curiosity to know what monstrosity is to arise from my ashes, do they? I feel much like saying, confound their base ideas of true education. But I will only say, tell all such interested individuals that my aim is now as it has been for the past ten years, to make myself a true woman, one worthy of the name…and not to be one of the silly little fools who make up the bulk of American women, slaves to society and fashion.
Ellen H. RichardS (1842 – 1911)
First person to qualify for a Ph.D. in chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology but was denied because faculty thought it would be “unseemly” to give the first Ph.D. to a woman.
Good Woman 
Outrageous. I poked around and I don’t see where any degree might have been given posthumously either… But MIT named a room after her. Likely would have preferred the degree.
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I had picked up this quote in a women’s studies course that I had taken in college in the early 70’s. I had written it in my journal and kept it in my mind but it had not seen the light of day until now. But you went further than I did as I had not done any follow-up research. Interesting she has a name named after her, but doesn’t have the Ph.D.
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Great quote and snippet of history. An appalling part of history, but well worth knowing nonetheless.
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I am glad women are so much more accepted in the world of academia, but there is still a ways to go. Thanks for commenting.
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