THE STORIES

1950-2015 Inspiring Generations On the eve of the Society’s 60th anniversary in 2010, SWE Fellow Margaret “Pritch” Pritchard captured the essence of the SWE experience. A condensed and modified version of her article, “Viewpoint: Intergenerational Inspirations,” published in the 2009 Conference issue of SWE Magazine, appears below. “History is much more than just a sterile record of facts. History is a story that can be brought to life. And the SWE story is one of women developing their capabilities through education and experience, and moving forward in a male-dominated profession that did not necessarily welcome them. It is a story of determination, leadership, and of women offering mutual support and camaraderie. Especially in the early days of the Society, it is also the story of courageous women swimming against the current of the times, refusing to abandon their dreams or deny their potential. If you were to ask me what best exemplifies SWE, I would say that it is women of different backgrounds, ages, and experiences coming together, either with the desire to become an engineer, or from the perspective of a professional, to be a better engineer. In one sense, it is a story of intergenerational support, of one generation inspiring the next to move forward with their dreams and aspirations. Being part of this story has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of role models, of mentoring, and of supporting the next generation of women engineers. I began to understand in a new way why the history of women in engineering needed to be told…[which] motivated me to be a member of the archives committee, and to support the Over-the-Hill Suite at SWE conferences. In fact, listening to stories in such a setting [as the Over-the-Hill Suite] is one of the most delightful ways to share in the process of intergenerational inspiration. …An exchange I will never forget took place when Bonnie Dunbar, Ph.D., a member of the astronaut corps, described her experience re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. …As Bonnie described her observations of the metal particulates she saw from the shuttle window, she and Esther Williams, an expert metallurgist many years Bonnie’s senior, drew diagrams of their construction. Based on the diagrams and descriptions, Esther identified the materials in the particulates. …The rest of us sat captivated. Such experiences of intergenerational inspirations have caused me to be aware of my obligations to future engineers. As someone who has thoroughly enjoyed her career, I believe in helping subsequent generations of engineers determine their niche in life. Being involved in such a process has been a very happy part of my giving back to a profession I love. It is the reason I am convinced that SWE history and the history of women in engineering is so much more than a collection of dates and facts. It is the story of those who came before us, it is my story, and your story, and the stories of those who follow us.” 5 TOP RIGHT: Margaret Pritchard, wearing an “Old Age Combat Hat and Survival Kit,” in the Over-the-Hill Suite during the 1998 SWE national conference. MIDDLE RIGHT: From left, Elaine Pitts, an unknown member, Past President Isabelle French, Convention Chair Irene Sharpe and Betty Lou Bailey (seated) gather around a photo album at the 1982 Society of Women Engineers national convention in Dearborn, Michigan. BOTTOM RIGHT: Sandra Wood and Peggy Layne explore SWE scrapbooks created by Arminta Harness at the 60th Anniversary Gallery at the WE10 annual conference in Orlando, Florida. BACKGROUND PHOTO: SWE scrapbooks created by Arminta Harness, on display in the 60th Anniversary Gallery at the WE10 annual conference in Orlando, Florida. 6 Visit SWE.ORG/WEBUILTTHIS to get a closer look at the images. 7