OPPORTUNITIESfor WOMEN . CHEMISTS in WASHINGTON' RUBY K. WORNER National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. C
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HEN this title was selected, I had it in mind'to assume the r8le of the inquiring reporter and to visit women a t work and also those who have had experience in placing and observing women chemists in Washington. I happened to meet Mr. Boutell, who is in charge of our Information Section a t the National Bureau of Standards and who generally knows the answers, so I asked him what he thought of opportunities for women chemists in Washington. "Well," he smiled, "I have heard that the women so far outnumber the men here that they don't have many opportunities." However, an examination of the situation indicates that this bit of logic may not be applicable to women chemists.
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Contribution to the Symposium on Training and Opportunities for Women in Chemistry, conducted by the Division of Chemical Education at the ninety-eighth meeting of the A. C. S., Boston, Mass.. September 14. 1939.
Let us consider first the various positions in Washington that require chemical training. The different Government agencies employ the largest number, and these will be discussed more particularly. Since Washington has certain unique advantages, there is considerable variety in the other agencies that employ chemists. The Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington is here. A number of trade associations have offices and some laboratories, for example, the Institute of Paint and Varnish Manufacturers and the National Association Institute of Dyeing and Cleaning. Editorial offices of some of the scientific journals, such as Industrial and Enginemug Chemistry, Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and Science Service are located here. Some business concerns and patent lawyers station chemists here to do library research. There is more than the usual number of opportunities for teaching in colleges as well as in secondary schools, for in and near Washington
are American University, Catholic University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, the University of Maryland, and others. Coijperative researches with industry are invited by some of the Government departments; for example, a t the National Bureau of Standards there is a research associate plan which operates somewhat similar to that a t the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research. A large number of organizations have taken advantage of this plan, including the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, the American Petroleum Institute, and more recently, the Textile Foundation. In the Federal service, practically every type of chemistry is utilized. According to the latest classified list of members of the Chemical Society of Washington, the majority of chemists in the classified service are employed in six of the major departments of which Agriculture and Commerce lead in numbers. It would only be confusing to name the twenty-seven or more bureaus represented, but you will be interested in knowing that women chemists are working in the Bureaus of Animal Industry, Chemistry and Soils, Dairy Industry, Home Economics, and Food and Drug Administration in the Department of Agriculture; in the National Bureau of Standards, the Geological Survey, the National Institute of Health, and the United States National Museum. There are probably others, but it is difficult to obtain complete figures. In all the Bureaus mentioned, the men far outnumber the women, with the exception of the Bureau of Home Economics. The Chief of this Bureau is Dr. Louise Stanley, who is a chemist, as are also the heads of the nutrition and textile divisions. In the Bureau of Home Economics, women are definitely given a break, for the Bureau is practically "manned" throughout by women. Moreover, the history of this Bureau shows the ability of women to work together, which is contrary to Dr. Landis' contention. Some of you are probably wondering how one gets a position in the Government. with the exception of establishments outside the competiti* classified service, all positions in the Federal Government are obtained through Civil Service examinations. Technically speaking, there are no provisions discriminating against women in the laws and rnles governing the Federal Service. Moreover, the regulations of the Commission provide for "equal compensation irrespective of sex." Examinations for positions paying an annual salary of $2600 or less are designated "assembled" and require the applicant to take a written examination on subject matter appropriate for the position to be filled. Although similar examinations may be held for positions paying higher salaries, these examinations are usually "unassembled" and require the applicant to furnish information on his training and experience and to submit lists of publications. The rating of the applicants by the Commission is based on the grade received in the examination, although credit is also given for military preference. When an opening in any agency occursi
