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Chemistry Was Their Life: Pioneering British Women Chemists, 1880-1949: Pioneer British Women Chemists, 1880-1949
Author(s): Marelene Rayner-Canham (Memorial University of Newfoundland (Author), Canada) & Geoff Rayner-Canham (Memorial University of Newfoundland (Author), Canada) (Author)
- Publisher: Imperial College Press
- Publication Date: 3 Dec. 2008
- Edition: Illustrated
- Language: English
- Print length: 560 pages
- ISBN-10: 186094986X
- ISBN-13: 9781860949869
Book Description
British chemistry has traditionally been depicted as a solely male endeavor. 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 100 of the 900 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.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“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.” —Springer
