Pennington, Mary Engle
1872 - Mary was born on October 8th in Nashville, Tennessee to Henry and Sarah Molony Pennington. American chemist and food scientist.
1890 - She was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania.
1892 - Completed the degree requirements for a major in chemistry and minors in zoology and botany.
- Was awarded a certificate of proficiency rather than a B.S. because the University of Pennsylvania did not grant degrees to women.
1895 - Began her professional career as an analytical chemist, earning her Ph.D. under Edgar Fahs Smith at the University of Pennsylvania.
1898 - She accepted a position as director of the Clinical Laboratory at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania.
1905 - Pennington began her long association with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a bacteriological chemist.
1906 - Became the Chief of the Food Research Laboratory that was just being established as a result of the Pure Food and Drug Act.
1919 - Pennington accepted a position as director of American Balsa, which manufactured insulation used in refrigeration units.
- Mary Engle Pennington was recognized for her pioneering work. She was elected to the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers, she was awarded the Notable Service Medal from President Hoover.
1922 - She started her own consulting firm.
- Applied her knowledge to refrigeration, making numerous contributions, especially in the design of commercial and household refrigerators, refrigerated railway cars, and freezers.
1940 - She was awarded with the Garvan Medal.
1952 - Dr. Mary Engle Pennington remained active professionally. She was still consulting and was vice president of the American Institute of Refrigeration when she died on December 27th in New York.
2002 - She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
1890 - She was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania.
1892 - Completed the degree requirements for a major in chemistry and minors in zoology and botany.
- Was awarded a certificate of proficiency rather than a B.S. because the University of Pennsylvania did not grant degrees to women.
1895 - Began her professional career as an analytical chemist, earning her Ph.D. under Edgar Fahs Smith at the University of Pennsylvania.
1898 - She accepted a position as director of the Clinical Laboratory at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania.
1905 - Pennington began her long association with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a bacteriological chemist.
1906 - Became the Chief of the Food Research Laboratory that was just being established as a result of the Pure Food and Drug Act.
1919 - Pennington accepted a position as director of American Balsa, which manufactured insulation used in refrigeration units.
- Mary Engle Pennington was recognized for her pioneering work. She was elected to the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers, she was awarded the Notable Service Medal from President Hoover.
1922 - She started her own consulting firm.
- Applied her knowledge to refrigeration, making numerous contributions, especially in the design of commercial and household refrigerators, refrigerated railway cars, and freezers.
1940 - She was awarded with the Garvan Medal.
1952 - Dr. Mary Engle Pennington remained active professionally. She was still consulting and was vice president of the American Institute of Refrigeration when she died on December 27th in New York.
2002 - She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
Page last updated: 12:47am, 12th Jul '07