Grace Anne Stewart
| Grace Anne Stewart | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | August 4, 1893 Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | October 15, 1970 (aged 77) |
| Education |
B.A. and M.A. majoring in geology at the University of Alberta Ph.D. at University of Chicago |
| Known for | First female to earn a B.A. in geology in Canada |
B.A. and M.A. majoring in geology at the University of Alberta
Grace Anne Stewart (4 August 1893 – 15 October 1970) was a first woman to graduate in geology in Canada at the University of Alberta.
In 1831, her great grandfather and grandfather, both known as James Stewart, immigrated to Canada from Scotland. The Stewarts established themselves in Straftford, Ontario. Grace Anne Stewart's father, James Stewart, was the only one of his six brothers to become a farmer. In 1881, he moved to Manitoba and settled on a farm near Minnedosa where Grace Anne Stewart was then born and raised. Grace had two brothers and two sisters. Despite being raised in a rural environment, Grace Anne was not lacking professional influences. Three of her uncles received medical degrees from the University of Chicago, while another was a lawyer, and her fifth uncle was a building contractor.
In 1918 Stewart earned her Bachelor of Arts majoring in geology at the University of Alberta. She was the first woman attain this academic achievement in Canada. Her Freshman and Sophomore year she was a member of the Alberta College Literary Society. In 1918, she was also the captain of the girls hockey team, which was said to be an exceptional year in the history of the team. Upon earning her degree she remained at the University of Alberta as Assistant in the Department of Geology from 1918–1920, and in 1920, she earned a Masters in Arts. She was then awarded a fellowship at the University of Chicago. Here she worked under the supervision of Stuart Weller and earned a Ph.D. with distinction in 1922. She began her professional career in 1923 when she accepted an offer to become an Instructor at Ohio State University. She attained the title of professor in 1946 and remained at Ohio State University until her retirement in 1954. Here she was active in Faculty Women's Group and was Chairman for one year. She also dedicated much of her time to the Geological Museum. Following her dissertation, Stewart focused primarily on Paleozoic faunas of Ohio and in 1937, was the Chairman of the Geology Section of the Ohio Academy of Science. Stewart was also listed as a Member of Sigma Xi, Fellow Paleontological Society, Fellow Geological Society of America, and was listed in Who's Who - Women of America.
Stewart was highly active in her academic career. In the summers of 1919 and 1920 she worked for the Research Council of Alberta. The summers of 1921 and 1922 she spent working in the National Museum with the Geology Survey of Canada. It is noteworthy to mention that her collaboration with Dr. J.A. Allan at the University of Alberta lead to long-term exchanges of rock samples and fossils that aided the development of both institutions geological museums in 1924 to 1925.
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