Stratton, Dorothy C. (Dorothy Constance), 1899-2006
Dates
- Existence: March 24, 1899 - September 17, 2006
Biographical Information
Dorothy Constance Stratton served as Dean of Women at Purdue from 1933 until 1946, at a time in which the enrollment of women students jumped from less than 500 to more than 1,400. During her tenure at Purdue, she oversaw the creation of a liberal science program for women in the School of Science as well as an employment placement center. She helped established the Housemother Training School that gave intensive training to fraternity and sorority housemothers from across the United States.
In 1942, during the Second World War, Stratton took a military leave of absence from Purdue and was commissioned to create and direct the Women’s Reserve of the Coast Guard, also known as SPARS (an acronym she coined based on the phrase "Semper Paratus, Always Ready"). She earned the rank of captain in 1944. Upon her retirement from the military in 1946, she was awarded a Legion of Merit Medal for her contributions to women in the armed forces. Stratton went on to serve as the first director of personnel at the International Monetary Fund and then later as an executive director of the Girl Scouts of the America until her retirement in 1960. Purdue University awarded Stratton an honorary doctorate of law in 1958. Stratton passed away on September 17, 2006.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Other Purdue Material, 1940 - 1985
This series contains miscellaneous materials related to Schleman's tenure at Purdue, including her advocacy for equal rights for women students and faculty. Of particular note are materials that document Schleman's nomination of ten women for President of Purdue in 1970, the Schleman Gold Medallion Award and the 1979 TIAA pension lawsuit.
Research Files, 1938 - 1985
This series contains clippings, reports, notes, and other resources on topics of interest to Schleman that she researched. Most of the files cover specific topics related to women's struggle for equal rights. General subject areas include women in higher education, women in the work force, motherhood, sex roles, volunteerism, and the women's movement.