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
editThe 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
editThe 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
editReferences
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).