Lydia Weld facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lydia Weld
Born	1878 Boston
Died	January 5, 1962 Carmel, California
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lydia “Rose” Gould Weld (1878–1962) was an amazing American engineer. She was one of the very first women to earn an engineering degree in the United States. Lydia was also the first woman to graduate with an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Early Life and Family

Lydia Weld was born in Boston in 1878. She was an identical twin! Her sister, Julia, was known as Violet because she wore a purple ribbon. Lydia wore pink and was called Rose.

The Weld family loved to travel. They spent winters in the South. Summers were often spent in Cape Cod. They even explored the James River in Virginia by houseboat. Lydia enjoyed playing tennis and baseball. She also had a hobby of collecting stamps.

Becoming an Engineer

Lydia was taught by private teachers called governesses. Later, she went to a finishing school. She was accepted into Bryn Mawr College. But she needed to take an English class first.

Instead, Lydia decided to apply to MIT. This was against her mother's wishes. A professor even thought she would quit because engineering involved a lot of hands-on work. But Lydia proved them wrong!

Studying at MIT

Lydia started at MIT in 1898. She learned many practical skills there. These included blacksmithing and designing train engines. She earned a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. This means she learned how to design ships.

First Job at a Shipyard

After graduating, Lydia got a job as a draughtsman. This was at the Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia. Her job was to draw all the plans for machines. These machines would be installed on naval ships.

Lydia became one of the first two women to join the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The other woman was Kate Gleason. Lydia was an associate member at first. In 1935, women were allowed to become full members. Lydia worked at the shipyard from 1903 to 1917. She was in charge of the tracing department. She had to leave her job because of a long-term breathing problem.

Life in California

In 1918, Lydia moved to California to live with her brother. She managed his large ranch, which was 320 acres. Before taking on this role, she took a course at the University of California, Davis. She managed the ranch until 1933.

Lydia was always involved in her community. In Newport News, she taught Sunday school. In California, she joined the League of Women Voters. She also helped with the Right to Work Campaign. Lydia always stayed connected with her MIT alumni group.

World War II Service

When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Lydia wanted to help. She volunteered to be a ground observer. She worked on a 40-foot tower at Cypress Point in California. Her shift was from 4:00 to 8:00 a.m.

Lydia also took a course in airplane design. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley. She then became the only engineer working as a senior draughtsman. This was for Moore’s Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California. She retired from this job in 1945.

Later Years and Legacy

Lydia Weld lived in San Francisco for many years. She passed away on January 5, 1962. She is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, near Boston. Lydia Weld's life showed that women could achieve great things in engineering. She opened doors for many who came after her.