Celebrating 100 Years of Women at NC State University

18901901-19191920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s


1930

Ada Curtis Spencer was the first woman to enroll as a freshman and complete a four-year degree from NC State. She majored in social science.

 

 

Photo of Ada Spencer.

Ada Spencer
1930 Agromeck
University Archives, NCSU Libraries

 

 

Mary E. Yarbrough was elected vice president of NC State's General Alumni Association.

The first local sorority, Phi Epsilon, was established.


1931

Photo of Lorena Brinson.

Lorena Brinson
1931 Agromeck
University Archives, NCSU Libraries


Lorena Quinn Brinson was the first woman to earn a B.S. degree in biology.


1932

Lillian Tyler Jones was the first woman to earn an M.S. degree in textiles.

"I was the first woman to receive a graduate degree in the Department of Textiles. That was 1932. At that time the department was in old Tompkins Hall--built in replica of a textile factory. My thesis subject required tensile strength tests on various fibres; I shall never forget the problems involved due to fluctuating temperatures and humidity in the "constant temperature room." Dr. Nelson, head of the department, Dr. Hart and Dr. Hilton were very dubious about accepting a female, but were finally won over by Dr. Grimshaw and all went smoothly. At that time there was no area provided for women students to rest or lounge nor were there any dormitory accommodations. I was a member of a committee sponsored by the NC State College Women's Club to transform one room in the basement of Peele Hall for a women's lounge--entrance in the rear!"

-- Lillian Tyler Jones


Elizabeth Lee Lawrence was the first woman to earn a B.S. degree in landscape architecture.

 


Photo of Elizabeth L. Lawrence.


Elizabeth L. Lawrence
1932 Agromeck
University Archives, NCSU Libraries

 

 


1933

Photo of Katherine W. Sams.

Katherine W. Sams
1932 Agromeck
Special Collections Dept., NCSU Libraries

 

Katherine W. Sams was the first woman to earn an M.S. degree in economics.



 

Maud K. Schaub was the first woman to earn an M.S. degree in biology.


 


Photo of Maud K. Schaub.


Maud K. Schaub
1932 Agromeck
Special Collections Dept., NCSU Libraries

 

 


1935

The formation of the consolidated university system, an agreement between NC State, the University of North Carolina, and Women's College at Greensboro (now UNC at Greensboro), proved a setback for women at NC State. The new system denied women admission to both NC State and UNC.


1936

Virginia Lee Reinheimer (Bloch) and Eleanor Greene became the first women to receive bachelor's degrees from the N.C. State School of Textiles.



 



Photo of Virginia Lee Reinheimer (Bloch). Photo of Eleanor Greene.

Reinheimer
Greene
1936 Agromeck
University Archives, NCSU Libraries

 

 

 

 

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