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KATHERINE'S
BIOGRAPHY
 Early Life
Katharine Burr Blodgett
was born January 10, 1898 in Schenectady, New York. She was the second
child in her family and was nicknamed "Katie." |
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Her mother was Katharine Buchanan
Burr and her father was George Bedington Blodgett, a patent
lawyer for the General Electric Company. Katie's father died a few
weeks before she was born. After Katie's birth, the family moved
to New York City, then to France, and then back to New York City in 1912.
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School
Because of her father's position as a lawyer, Katie's family
was left with more than enough money at the time of his death. Because
the family moved around often, Katie didn't get a chance to attend normal
school every year. However, when she did go to school, she attended
private school where girls received the same quality of education as boys.
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Katie was always very good at math.
Fortunately, Katie's mom did not discourage her "unfeminine" interests;
instead, she taught Katie to be proud of her abilities.
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College
Katie graduated high school when she was fifteen (in 1913)
and won a scholarship to Bryn Mawr College. She earned her Bachelor's
degree at Bryn Mawr by age 19 in 1917. She went on to the University
of Chicago to get her master's
degree in chemistry.
In 1926, she became the first woman ever to get her Ph.D
in physics
from Cambridge University.
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Work
Katie was hired by General Electric as a Research Scientist as
soon as she received her Master's degree in 1920. During her research,
she often worked with Dr. Irving Langmuir, who had worked with her father.
Click on inventions to learn about her accomplishments
at work. |
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Social
Life
Although Katie was an important and very smart scientist, she
was not a boring person! Katie had a balanced life. She was
an actress with her town's little theater group. She also volunteered
for civic and charitable organizations. She enjoyed writing funny
poems such as the one at right. |
"That formaldehyde
polyvinyl--
If you eat it, you're certain to dine ill.
One night at a party,
When the guests all ate hearty,
By actual count it made nine ill."
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Photos
of Katie
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These photos taken from websites indexed in the links
bibliography section and also from the book Woman Inventors
(also indexed there). Some have links to enlarge the image. |
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Time for a Quiz! Katie's
Life
Instructions: Decide on the correct answers
and fill out the whole quiz. Then click on the button at the bottom
to check your work.
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Wait, let me read it again
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Good Job! You are done with the
quiz.
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