Abstract

Throughout the years, books on the history of science have featured only scattered references to the contributions of women in scientific fields. Published biographical dictionaries of scientists have contained relatively few entries devoted to women. Within the last century, sparked by the emerging interest in the feminist movement, isolated volumes have appeared dealing with women in medicine, in mathematics, in chemistry and physics, and in the biological sciences.Marilyn Ogilvie and Joy Harvey, with the aid of over twenty contributors, have amassed a two‐volume collection of essays on women who have worked in the sciences. No other work of such massive scope has been published; it contains information on the works and lives of approximately 2,500 women scientists culled from many sources. The fields of science covered include astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and psychology. The women cited are from around the world and are either deceased or were born before 1910.Individual entries vary in length, not necessarily reflecting the importance of the individual's achievements. In cases where sources and detailed biographies are readily available, the entry included may be briefer. Each entry consists of a data section summarizing personal information, a biographical essay, and a bibliography containing selected works by and works about each woman.Also included are various summary lists. Using these, the reader can derive perspectives on such questions as: What disciplines have attracted women through the ages? What time periods were most conducive to women's work? What countries and cultures encouraged women achievers?Greater care could have been taken in proofreading and editing the manuscript to minimize various technical flaws in the presentation. For instance, the ordering of entries in the “Alphabetical List of Entries” in the main body of entries and in the subject index is not always consistent.With any work of this nature and magnitude, questions can always be raised as to omissions. There is no entry, for instance, for the mathematician and computer scientist Gertrude Blanch , who received the Federal Woman's Award from President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Given today's widespread use of the computer, it is also surprising that no mention is given to pertinent reference sources available on the Internet.This work is extremely valuable as a reference tool. It provides a springboard for further study on specific women as well as on the past, present, and future role of women in the sciences. It can also serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to young women to seek careers in the sciences