Marelene Rayner-Canham

Geoff Rayner-Canham

British chemistry has traditionally been depicted as a solely male endeavour. However, this perspective is untrue: the allure of chemistry has attracted women since the earliest times. Despite the barriers placed in their path, women studied academic chemistry from the 1880s onwards and made interesting or significant contributions to their fields, yet they are virtually absent from historical records. Comprising a unique set of biographies of 141 of the 896 known women chemists from 1880 to 1949, this work attempts to address the imbalance by showcasing the determination of these women to survive and flourish in an environment dominated by men. Individual biographical accounts interspersed with contemporary quotes describe how women overcame the barriers of secondary and tertiary education, and of admission to professional societies. Although these women are lost to historical records, they are brought together here for the first time to show that a vibrant culture of female chemists did indeed exist in Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Contents:IntroductionGetting an Education: The Professional SocietiesThe London Co-educational CollegesThe London Women's CollegesEnglish Provincial UniversitiesThe Cambridge and Oxford Women's CollegesUniversities in Scotland and WalesHoppy's 'Biochemical Ladies'Women CrystallographersWomen in PharmacyThe Role of Chemists' WivesWomen Chemists and the First World WarThe Interwar Period and Beyond Readership: Historians of science, chemists, those with an interest in women's studies, educationalists, and general readers. Keywords:History;Chemistry;Science;Women;Education;University;SchoolKey Features:Presents the only published account of the lives and contributions of British women chemists from 1880 to 1949Examines the role of certain secondary schools and colleges/universities in encouraging women to choose a career in chemistryHighlights the role of certain males in championing the women chemists' cause and in mentoring individual womenDiscusses the reasons why women clustered in certain fields and the forgotten role of women chemists during the First World WarReviews:“Chemistry was Their Life has been very well researched and is extensively referenced … It is of great interest also to read of the battle which these women had to obtain recognition by professional societies.”Chemistry World “Chemistry was Their Life is an important contribution to the history of chemistry, providing a glimpse into the lives of pioneering British women. It has a lot of information about the women who worked in one or another capacity as chemists … It is warmly recommended to all chemists, chemistry historians, and to scientists involved with gender studies.”Structural Chemistry

Pioneer British Women Chemists, 1880–1949

Chemistry was Their Life

Geoffrey Rayner-Canham

Historically, British chemistry has been perceived as a solely male endeavour. However, this perception is untrue: the allure of chemistry has attracted British women for centuries past. Since the 1880s, women chemists have studied academic chemistry and made interesting and significant contributions to their fields, yet they have been absent from the historical record. This book rectifies the gaps, providing a well-researched glimpse into the forgotten world of British women in chemistry from 1880-1949. This title showcases the determination of these women to survive and flourish in their chosen field. The authors show how women were fascinated by chemistry long before the modern era; unravelled the complex saga of chemistry at girls' secondary schools; found the other avenues by which women chemists pursued their love of the subject; and discovered a unifying passion for chemistry and poetry that extended from grade school to university and industrial employment.

Marelene Rayner-Canham

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