Born: 27 August 1875, United States
Died: 28 December 1967
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Katharine Dexter
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Katharine Dexter McCormick was a trailblazing U.S. suffragist, philanthropist, and visionary. Following her husband’s passing, she inherited a substantial part of the McCormick family fortune. Her groundbreaking contributions paved the way for the development of the first birth control pill.
Early Life and Vision
Katharine’s passion for gender equality ignited early on. During her time at MIT, she challenged conventions, taking on the administration over a seemingly simple yet profound matter: the wearing of feathered hats (a fashion trend) in laboratories.
A Voice for Change
In 1909, Katharine addressed Massachusetts’s first outdoor rally for woman suffrage. She became the vice president and treasurer of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, funding the Woman’s Journal publication. Playing a pivotal role in the 19th Amendment’s ratification, she collaborated with prominent figures like Carrie Chapman Catt, Mary Dennett, and Margaret Sanger.
During World War I, Katharine chaired the association’s War Service Department, simultaneously serving on the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense. In the 1920s, her partnership with Margaret Sanger thrust her into birth control advocacy. She orchestrated a remarkable feat—smuggling over 1,000 diaphragms from Europe.
Championing Medical Research
Inspired by her husband’s illness, Katharine established the Neuroendocrine Research Foundation at Harvard Medical School, delving into the link between endocrinology and mental health. She also funded a research center for the mentally ill at Worcester State Hospital.
Legacy of Empowerment
Katharine’s impact extended to MIT, where she tackled the issue of housing for female students. Her generous donation led to the creation of Stanley McCormick Hall—an all-female dormitory that transformed the landscape of women’s education.