Today is Ada Lovelace Day, dedicated to blogging about women in technology, illuminating them and providing role models. I don't consider myself a woman in technology in any way, but have devoted a lot of time to meta-level technology issues, and women's history generally. The invocation of Lady Ada completes the circle for me, as if I had to pick from any woman in technology to write a blog post on, I would have picked Ada first, being one of my heroes (and the namesake of my beloved, much-missed cat).
Ada herself is well-known these days, so it seemed only right to post about someone else; and given that this is me, I thought a Canadian woman would be an excellent choice. My first thought was Roberta Bondar, Canada's first female astronaut and an accomplished neurology researcher, but my mind turned instead to that other interest of mine, women and aeroplanes. And if we push 'technology' a little to include engineering, I have just the woman for the job.
Elizabeth Muriel Gregory MacGill (known as "Elsie") had a string of 'firsts' attached to her name. Most notably, she was the first woman to receive an electrical engineering degree in Canada, the first woman to receive a Master's degree in aeronautic engineering in North America, and the first female aircraft designer in the whole world. Her mother, Helen Gregory MacGill, was the first female judge in British Columbia. But Elsie was so much more than just firsts; she was a woman of dedication, perseverance, and immense talent.
After her EE degree, she went on to achieve a Master's in aeronautical engineering. Around the time she graduated, she developed polio and was told she'd never walk again. Well, Elsie never took no for an answer, and she taught herself to walk again with the help of two metal canes. She wrote articles on aviation to support herself during her recovery, and then went to work, designing aeroplanes. She did dream of being a pilot, but due to her illness, this was not possible; still, she worked around her limitations, and insisted on being a passenger on every test flight of her designs, to assess performance!
During WWII, Elsie really came into her own, earning the nickname "Queen of the Hurricanes" for her work on the Hawker Hurricane, one of the key aeroplanes for the RAF during the war. She was in charge of all engineering work on the Hurricanes, including design modifications to allow the plane to fly in winter conditions, and made an invaluable contribution to the war effort.
Elsie kept on working for the rest of her life; she eventually married (though she kept her maiden name), started a private consulting firm, was an advisor to the U.N. (and the first woman to ever chair a U.N. committee), and published a book about her mother's life. And following on from her mother's example, she became a devoted advocate of women's rights, even being named to the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada.
Elsie died a member of the Order of Canada, a passionate defender of women's rights, and an example of someone who overcame both her gender in the time period, and a physical disability, to reach the heights of her profession. I don't know if this fits the definition of 'mentor', but I definitely consider her a hero, and an example of someone who did what she wanted to do in her life, damn the consequences: something young women today who are fighting to get into technology fields can use as an inspiration.
Be sure to go check out the archives for some great posts; there are a few wonderful ones on Delia Derbyshire, for example, and Bone
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