Isabelle F. French, 1924 - 2014
Dr. Isabelle French was the first woman to graduate from Tri-State College's School of Engineering with a degree in radio engineering, in 1944. Tri-State's Alumni Association honored her with a Distinguished Service Award in 1962. Then she received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater in 1966.
She worked on the engineering and development of radar tubes at Sylvania in Massachusetts from 1944 until 1952, when she moved to a similar position at Capehart-Farnsworth in Indiana for 2 years.
In 1954 she joined Bell Telephone Laboratories in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she built her own home in Allentown, and remained until her retirement more than 40 years later. After retiring to Washington State, she did some wood working of all types -- building furniture and cabinets, remodeling kitchens. French passed away in 2014.
She was the president of the national Society of Women Engineers from 1964 to 1966. She joined SWE in 1951 and had been an active participant in Society activities ever since. She served as section director for both the Boston and Philadelphia sections, chairman of the Philadelphia section, vice-chairman of Boston, director-at-large, national treasurer, member of the Executive Committee, and national secretary. She was a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.
In their 2001 Profiles of SWE Pioneers Oral History Project interview, French and Elaine Pitts discussed their experiences growing up during the Depression; their education; their careers in engineering; and their participation in SWE and other professional organizations.
She worked on the engineering and development of radar tubes at Sylvania in Massachusetts from 1944 until 1952, when she moved to a similar position at Capehart-Farnsworth in Indiana for 2 years.
In 1954 she joined Bell Telephone Laboratories in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she built her own home in Allentown, and remained until her retirement more than 40 years later. After retiring to Washington State, she did some wood working of all types -- building furniture and cabinets, remodeling kitchens. French passed away in 2014.
She was the president of the national Society of Women Engineers from 1964 to 1966. She joined SWE in 1951 and had been an active participant in Society activities ever since. She served as section director for both the Boston and Philadelphia sections, chairman of the Philadelphia section, vice-chairman of Boston, director-at-large, national treasurer, member of the Executive Committee, and national secretary. She was a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.
In their 2001 Profiles of SWE Pioneers Oral History Project interview, French and Elaine Pitts discussed their experiences growing up during the Depression; their education; their careers in engineering; and their participation in SWE and other professional organizations.
Citation
Caiafa, Nikki. “SWE Pioneer - Isabelle French.” Society of Women Engineers, SWE Oral History Project, 19 August 2001, Retrieved January 18, 2019, from societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/page/967-isabelle-french.
“Isabelle F. French, 1924-.” Society of Women Engineers, societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/component/content/article/?id=134&Itemid=78.
“Isabelle F. French, 1924-.” Society of Women Engineers, societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/component/content/article/?id=134&Itemid=78.
Advertisement
SWE News