Eloise Gerry in the lab

UW-Madison faculty member Eloise Gerry in her laboratory. In 1936, Dr. Gerry was hailed in one newspaper article as, "The only woman scientist in her field in the world, so far as is known... [her] work in the microscopic study of growing trees has been widely recognized in recent years by scientific authorities, despite an earlier prejudice against her on account of her sex." She is regarded as the first female scientist in the Forest Service. On this point, Dr. Gerry recognized her role as a pioneer and was an active early member of the organization, Graduate Women in Science. A fellowship she helped establish continues to be offered each year in her name to female graduate students in chemistry or biology.