Annual Reception
Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Women's City Club
This year's historical topic is straight out of today's news, and we're delighted that GVSU historian Carolyn Shapiro-Shapin, Editor of Mlive/GR Press Julie Hoogland, and Medical Reporter Sue Thoms will join us to celebrate the life work of two 1930s Grand Rapids women scientists!
In the 1930s whooping cough killed 6,000 American children annually--until Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering developed one of the first, and best, vaccines against it. With dedicated laboratory help from chemists like Loney Clinton Gordon, they later refined their vaccine and shared it with the world. Historian Shapiro-Shapin will explain the vital importance of the community and state labs in this vaccine's development.
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Team meeting in Kendrick's office probably in the early 1940s.
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Today there are again startling outbreaks of whooping cough and other deadly childhood diseases. These important stories have been disseminated by reporter Thoms and editor Hoogland. By partnering with historian Shapiro-Shapin, they have contextualized today's news--on the front page!
Join us on March 18th for conversation about how the public has responded to these stories and how to keep this issue and these important women in our minds.
Take a step toward enshrining these remarkable women in the history of our city. If you can, let us know you're coming--
info@ggrwhc or 616-574-7307.
There will be food. Come and invite your friends! Free and open to the public.
New and renewing members will be offered a free glass of wine!
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2015
5 pm: Complimentary hors d'oeuvres & wine ticket bar ($5/glass)
5:30 pm: Brief annual report, followed by celebratory program.