Beatrice Hicks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beatrice Hicks
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| Born | January 2, 1919 |
| Died | October 21, 1979 (aged 60) |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Spouse(s) | Rodney Duane Chipp (m. 1948) |
| Engineering career | |
| Institutions | Newark College of Engineering BS Stevens Institute of Technology MS |
| Significant advance | Founding the Society of Women Engineers in 1950 |
Beatrice Alice Hicks (born January 2, 1919 – died October 21, 1979) was an amazing American engineer. She was the very first woman engineer hired by Western Electric. Beatrice also helped start and became the first president of the Society of Women Engineers.
When she started her career, many people thought engineering was not a job for women. But Beatrice didn't let that stop her! She took on many important leadership roles. Eventually, she even owned her own engineering company. While running her company, Beatrice invented a special gas density switch. This invention was super important! It was used in the U.S. space program, including the famous Apollo moon landing missions.
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Early Life and Education
Beatrice Hicks was born in 1919 in Orange, New Jersey. Her father, William Lux Hicks, was also a chemical engineer. From a young age, Beatrice knew she wanted to be an engineer too. Her parents didn't stop her from following her dream. However, some teachers and classmates tried to discourage her. They thought engineering wasn't a suitable job for a woman.
In 1935, she graduated from Orange High School. Then, she went to Newark College of Engineering. This school is now called New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 1939, she earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. She was one of only two women in her class!
While in college, Beatrice worked different jobs. She was a telephone operator and worked in the university library. After getting her degree, she stayed at Newark College of Engineering. For three years, she worked as a research assistant. She also took extra classes at night.
A Pioneering Career
In 1942, Beatrice Hicks started working at the Western Electric Company. She designed and tested special quartz crystal parts. These parts were used in electronic devices. She was the first woman engineer ever hired by Western Electric. Beatrice worked there for three years.
After her father passed away, she joined his company. It was called Newark Controls Company. This company made metal products in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Beatrice first became the chief engineer. Then, she was promoted to vice president of engineering. In 1955, she bought the company from her uncle. She became the owner!
At Newark Controls, Beatrice invented something amazing. It was a gas density switch. She even got a patent for it. This switch was used in the U.S. space program. It helped with the moon landing missions! She also helped create sensors. These sensors could tell when machines were about to break. Beatrice wrote many technical papers about her gas density switch.
While working, Beatrice kept learning. She earned a master's degree in physics in 1949. She got this degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology. She also took some electrical engineering classes at Columbia University.
Leading the Way for Women Engineers
In 1950, Beatrice Hicks and other women engineers started meeting. They lived on the East Coast of the United States. Their goal was to help more women become engineers. They also wanted to support women already in the field. Two years later, their group officially became the Society of Women Engineers.
Beatrice Hicks was chosen as the first president of this new organization. She served for two terms, from 1950 to 1952. In 1963, the Society of Women Engineers gave her their highest award. It was called the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award.
Beatrice traveled all over the United States. She spoke to many people about women in engineering. She believed that women engineers would be watched closely at first. But she also thought they would quickly be accepted.
In 1948, Beatrice married Rodney Duane Chipp. He was also an engineer. In 1960, they were chosen for a special tour. They traveled to South America for a month. They talked about how engineers from different countries could work together.
When Rodney died in 1966, Beatrice sold Newark Controls Company. She then took over her husband's consulting business. Beatrice also served on a special committee for women in the military. She helped organize the First International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists. She also represented the U.S. at four big international management meetings.
Beatrice Hicks passed away on October 21, 1979, in Princeton, New Jersey.
Awards and Honors
Beatrice Hicks received many awards for her important work. In 1952, Mademoiselle magazine named her "Woman of the Year in Business." This was because of her role at Newark Controls Company.
In 1978, Beatrice was invited to join the National Academy of Engineering. This is the highest honor an engineer can receive. She was only the sixth woman to join this group. In 2002, she was honored again. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
Beatrice also received special honorary doctorates. These are like special degrees given to honor someone's achievements. She received them from Hobart and William Smith College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She was the first woman to get an honorary doctorate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
She was also a member of important engineering groups. These included the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
In 2017, Beatrice Hicks was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This recognized her invention of the gas-density monitor. This monitor was very important for the growing American space program.
