Colleagues and Assistants

In the early days, obtaining a university degree as a young woman did not necessarily guarantee a carefree future. When universities began admitting women, little or no consideration had been given to potential careers for female students. Some institutions did not even issue diplomas to them. While a minority of students could afford to do nothing after graduation, the majority either had to marry or seek employment, usually in teaching. Only very few ventured into the world of scientific research, often through connections with male professors or researchers. They were frequently unpaid, and pursuing an academic career was usually out of the question. Their work was primarily driven by the pleasure of discovery.