THE STORIES

1950-2015
First International Conference of
Women Engineers and Scientists
[After the technical sessions on Friday adjourned]
Isabel Hardwich…gave the British delegation’s
thanks for the Conference and extended an
invitation to all to attend a Second Conference in
England in about three years…
A still-spirited group gathered on Sunday morning
to combine a business meeting with a brunch…
Then a resolution on the Conference was read
and adopted:
‘More than 500 women engineers and
scientists from 35 nations and all 50 States
of the U. S. A. have shared experiences,
plans, and aspirations during this Conference.
Women are making outstanding contributions
to science and technology throughout the
world. They have learned to know one another;
what they do, and how they live.
‘Speaker after speaker pointed to the many
ways in which science and engineering
are contributing to improved world living
conditions. The possibility of cooperation in
achieving the outstanding potential of the
future throughout the world was emphasized.
Then, like a refrain, each speaker mentioned
the inadequate supply of trained personnel
to implement future world needs. Statistics
point to the scarcely touched resource of
talented women.
‘The Conference therefore resolves
1. to encourage each participant to report
about the Conference in her home country
or region.
2. to encourage women to increase their
participation in the professional societies in
their countries.
3. to encourage women to enter the field and
improve their qualifications not only during
their student days but throughout their
professional life.
4. to maintain the central file of women
engineers and scientists used for this
Conference and enlarge it as much
as possible.’
And, for about the last hour of the meeting,
Ruth Shafer led a rather wild auction where over
a hundred dollars was raised for SWE funds
and several hundred for the funds for the next
International Conference. One delegate raised her
own bid, and several contributed items for auction—
including a lovely ring from Anna Amour, coins from
the Japanese and Indian delegates, dolls from the
Bolivian delegate, an inlaid cigarette case from the
Syrian delegate, and many more items…
And, what can be said after everyone left for their
homes…quite a lot. Many friendships were formed
and much knowledge and insight into common
problems was gained—it was an experience
none of us will forget.”
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ABOVE: First international Conference of
Women Engineers and Scientists event
ticket and banquet ticket.
LEFT: ICWES delegates Ruth Hupprich,
Rose Casey and Carolyn Phillips gather
for a pre-conference tour at the 1964
New York World’s Fair. During the tour,
ICWES delegates from all 50 states
and 33 countries gathered for a Parade
of States and Nations at the Fair’s
Federal Pavilion.
BACKGROUND PHOTO: Lady Bird
Johnson, first lady of the United States,
sent organizers a telegram with her best
wishes for a successful conference.
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Visit SWE.ORG/WEBUILTTHIS to get a closer look at the images.
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