Ruth Shafer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruth I Shafer
Born	12 March 1912 Brooklyn
Died	19 May 1972 New York
Nationality	American

Ruth Shafer (born March 12, 1912 – died May 19, 1972) was an amazing American engineer. She was famous for leading the very first big meeting for women engineers and scientists from all over the world.

Ruth Shafer's Early Life and School

Ruth I. Shafer was born in Brooklyn on March 12, 1912. She went to the University of Wisconsin. In 1934, she earned a degree in arts. She studied French and Literature there.

Ruth Shafer's Engineering Career

Ruth Shafer started her engineering career in the 1950s. She worked as a manager for a company called Overhead Heaters, Inc. There, she designed and built a special pump. This pump was for furnaces and flues that used oil for heat.

Later, from 1957 to 1970, Shafer worked for Gibbs & Cox. This company designed ships. As a design engineer, she wrote plans for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. After that, she worked for Cauter and Co.

Helping Women in Engineering

Ruth Shafer was a very important member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She helped raise money to open the SWE headquarters in New York. This was a big step for the organization.

She held many important jobs within SWE. She was the leader of the New York group. She also helped choose new leaders for the national group. Ruth was also the Treasurer and led the Employment Committee.

International Conference Leader

Ruth Shafer played a huge part in organizing the first International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists. She was the main person in charge of how the conference ran. She also joined the British-based Women's Engineering Society. She often gave money to them and hosted their members when they visited New York.

The Famous Auctioneer

Ruth Shafer was well-known for running fun auctions. These auctions happened at the end of every SWE national conference. She would auction off things left in the "Lost and Found." She also auctioned funny items that members donated. People would bid silly amounts of money for these items!

She brought this fun tradition to the international conferences too. Everyone called her the Auctioneer. She even signed her name as RI$. The money raised at the first international conference helped pay for the second one.

Awards and Memberships

On August 18, 1971, Ruth Shafer received a special award. She was the first person to get SWE's Certificate of Recognition. She was also a member of other important engineering groups. These included the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.

Ruth Shafer's Personal Life

Ruth Shafer loved outdoor adventures. She enjoyed whitewater canoeing. For five years, she was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. She was also listed in the "Who's Who of American Women."

Ruth I. Shafer passed away in New York on May 19, 1972. She had been ill with cancer for six years. Another engineer, Elsie Eaves, wrote about her life after she died.