Kathryn F. Clarenbach
| Kathryn F. Clarenbach | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
October 7, 1920 Sparta, Wisconsin, USA |
| Died | March 4, 1994 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Other names | Kay Clarenbach |
| Occupation | Educator, activist |
| Known for | Feminist activism, founding chairperson of NOW |
Kathryn F. Clarenbach (1920-1994) was an early leader of the modern feminist movement in the United States and the first Chairperson of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Kathryn “Kay” Dorothy Frederick was born in Sparta, Wisconsin on October 7, 1920 to Nina and Alexander Frederick. Her mother, Nina, was very active in the community and was elected to the Sparta school board in the early 1920s. Both of her parents were committed to help their children receive the best education possible. Kay started school at age 2,1/2 taking 1st and 2nd grade in the same year. It was expected that the Frederick children would attend college; their parents agreed to finance all of their children’s educations through a master's degree.
Clarenbach attended Sparta High School, took part in numerous clubs including German club, a cappella choir, orchestra, debate, yearbook, volleyball, basketball, and had the lead part in the senior play.
Clarenbach never took a final exam until 1937 when she got to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, so that experience was entirely new for her. Another new experience for her was the need to study. She had a mixture of study partners from a Supreme Court justice, a local lawyer, and a progressive left-winger. Due to the fact women were not allowed in the Rathskeller (a fact that annoyed her), she and her study partner would meet in the Paul Bunyan Room in the union.
Initially, Clarenbach was undecided as to what her major would be. Her father believed she should prepare for a practical career, such as teaching. However, in 1941 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
Clarenbach worked at a gift shop and sold tickets to make spending money during her college years. She spent her free time working on extracurricular activities. She joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and later became the house president in 1941.
In 1942, Clarenbach received her master's degree. In order to support the war effort, she took the federal Civil Service Exam and passed. She then moved to Washington D.C. to work as an administrative analyst with the War Production Board for two years. When she moved back to Madison in 1944, she went back to school to get her Ph.D., which she received two years later in 1946. During her graduate studies, she spent her time as a teacher’s assistant. One of her professors introduced her to a fellow student, Henry Clarenbach. On September 5, 1946, Kathryn and Henry Clarenbach were married in Sparta.
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