March 5, 1954 · The Harvard Crimson

The First Lady

In 1948, Harvard appointed Helen Maud Cam as its first female professor. A distinguished medieval historian, Cam was selected for her intellectual vigor and engaging personality, despite entering a male-dominated academic environment where women were considered secondary. Her enthusiasm for her subject matter and lively demeanor caused her to be well-recieved by colleagues and students alike, with one of her history department co-worker's citing that she was "one of the boys from the start." Born in 1885 in England, Cam earned B.A. from a London college and an M.A. from Bryn Mawr. Her career flourished with extensive research and teaching, eventually culminating in a Cambridge lectureship.
Creator
Finkelstein, Michael O.
Publisher
The Harvard Crimson
Date
1954-03-05
Format
Digital
Local URL
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1954/3/5/the-first-lady-pwhen-in-1948/
Tags
Date Added July 3, 2024
Date Modifed January 7, 2025
Collection Harvard and Gender Discrimination