Electrical Women's Round Table
The Electrical Women's Round Table (EWRT) was an American organization founded in 1923 to provide a professional network for women in the electricity industry. The organization was incorporated in the state of New York in 1927, became a national organization in 1948, and in 1998 expanded its scope again, to become the Women's International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP).
Founding and early years
[edit]The Electrical Women's Round Table was founded by seven women attending the Society for Electrical Development meeting in 1923,[1] and incorporated in New York in 1927 with more than fifty charter members in the New York area.[2] "We believe this to be the first group of its kind," wrote board member Lilian Cassels in 1925.[3] It welcomed women working in all aspects of the electricity industry, including home economists,[4][5] electricians, editors, teachers, designers, businesswomen, and engineers.[6] In 1927, the group produced a children's pantomime, "Cinderella's House", performed at an exposition of women's arts and industries in New York.[7][8]
After 1948
[edit]The Electrical Women's Round Table held its first national annual conference in 1954, in St. Louis.[9] The first day of workshops was open to the public, especially educators and representatives of allied fields.[10] They awarded scholarships,[11][12] hosted speakers,[13] and promoted the safe use of electricity in the home, through educational outreach to women.[14][15][16] The Round Table had 24 chapters nationwide by 1974.[17] Local chapters held social events and fundraisers.[18] For example, the Portland, Oregon, chapter offered men's cooking classes in the 1970s.[19] A chapter in Tennessee held a poster contest about energy conservation in 1975,[20] and an Indiana chapter published a cookbook in 1992.[1]
In 1998, the organization expanded its geographic and professional scopes, and was reorganized as the Women's International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP).[21]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Showalter, Doug (December 23, 1992). "Electricians find outlet for recipes". The Republic. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "How Women are Working to Bring Electricity to Every Home". House Furnishing Review. 68: 73. January 1928.
- ^ Cassels, Lilian (December 1925). "Electrical Women's Round Table". Electric Light and Power. 3: 30–34, 52.
- ^ "Home Economics Group to Study New Appliances". Phladelphia Inquirer. February 20, 1953. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Goldstein, Carolyn M. (2012-05-28). Creating Consumers: Home Economists in Twentieth-Century America. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-8078-7238-3.
- ^ "Women Prove Their Skill as Electricians" The Kansas City Star (October 11, 1927): 10. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Electrical Women Present Pantomime at Exhibition". Electrical Record. 42: 646. November 1927.
- ^ "Cinderella's House". Public Service Management. 43 (5): 180. November 1927.
- ^ Sievers Studio (1954). Rit Products Corporation's demonstration during the Electrical Women's Round Table, Inc.'s First Annual National Conference at the Hotel Sheraton. Digital Public Library of America.
- ^ "Electrical Round Table" St. Louis Globe-Democrat (May 2, 1954): 45. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Award Won by Gibson" Mesquite Daily News (June 29, 1977): 2. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Fellowship applications now being accepted". The Daily Capital News. February 6, 1975. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Electrical Women's Round Table Planned, Nov. 3" The Daily Notes (November 2, 1961): 14. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Electrical Women Honor LW Member" The Golden Rain Seal Beach Leisure World News (February 26, 1970): 16. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Electric Appliances Workshop to Show the Latest Equipment". Tri-County News. October 1, 1971. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Teachers Conference Set for Saturday". Latrobe Bulletin. October 19, 1960. p. 5.
- ^ "Cornell U. Student Wins Award" Syracuse Herald-Journal (September 25, 1974): 47. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Electrical Women's Round Table Picnic". The Cameron Citizen Observer. June 13, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Energy Saving Pushed". Oregon Journal. October 29, 1974. p. 50 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fry, Kristn (April 3, 1975). "EWRT holds contest". Johnson City Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Womack, Jason (July 17, 2007). "Utility industry women's group growing". Tulsa World. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- Women's International Network of Utility Professionals (official website)
- Women's Electrical Board (official website)
- Maddie Fowler, "Refrigerators and Women's Empowerment: The 'Peaceful Revolution' of Rural Electrification" National Museum of American History (October 20, 2021).