GWIS Omicron History
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The Omicron Chapter was founded on June 27, 1948 when its charter's constitution was written on the estate of Dr. Vera C. Patterson in Alexandria, Virginia. The Omicron Chapter of Sigma Delta Epsilon (SDE)-Graduate Women In Science (GWIS) held its first meeting on September 13, 1948 at the Young Women's Christian Association in Washington DC. The formal installation that followed took place at the centennial celebration of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Winona Welch presented the constitution to Dr. Roberta Ma, President of the new chapter and the following 8 charter members: Harriet Boyd, Anne Gravatt, Millicent Hathaway, Anna Jenkins, Frieda Meyer, Vera Patterson, Norma Pearson, and Madelyn Womack. The Omicron Chapter serves the Washington DC metropolitan area which includes Maryland and Virginia.  The membership represents government, industry, academic institutions, and other professional associations.  Monthly meetings and lectures are held September through June, and we are involved in community science related activities.
1952 The membership increased to 85 members.  The officers were:
Kathryn Knowlton - President
Mildred Adams - Vice President
Lee Struglia - Secretary
Hazel Fletcher - Treasurer
Dr. Flemmie Kittrell, Howard University, spoke on "The Nutrition Program in India," Dr. E.H. Walker, Smithsonian Institute, spoke about "Botanizing in Okinawa," Dr. Katherine Sanford, NIH, spoke on "Tissue Culture in Biological Research," and Mrs. Elizabeth Callison, US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), spoke on "Degenrate Changes in Tissues of Rats as Influenced by Diet."

1953 The Chapter officers included:
Mary Maver - President
Mary Louise Robbins - Vice President
Sophy Parfin- Secretary
Helen Park - Treasurer
Lectures included Dr. Claudia Prickett of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) presented on "The Biological Effects of Antabuse," Ms. Minnie Lee Van Tilburg, US Air Force, spoke on "Chartss for Air Navigation," Mrs. Helen Sherwin, USDA, spoke on "Disease Forage Crops," Nancy G. Rogers, Walter Reed Graduate School spoke on "Speleology and Bats," Dr. Mary Reid, NIH, "Nutritional Studies in teh Guinea Pig," Dr. Helen Oldham of ARS spoke on "Nitrogen Balances in Pregnant Women,"and Dr. Eugenia Rosenberg spoke on "Bioassay of Cortisone using Eosinophil Response."

1954 (Updating......)
1949 The membership increased from the original 9 members to 26.  The officers were:
Roberta Ma - President
Frieda Meyer - Vice President
Madelyn Womack - Secretary, Treasurer
Lectures presented then would be of interest today. Dr. Cranford, Minister of Calvary Baptist Church, spoke about "How Science Helps Me to Understand My Job Better", and Dr. B.D. Van. Evera of George Washington University, spoke on "Science and Education."

1950 The membership increased to 39 members. Chapter officers included:
Madelyn Womack - President
Vera Patterson - Vice President
Susan Davison - Secretary
Millicent Hathaway - Treasurer
Lectures included Dr. J.T. Sanders, Legistlative Council of the National Grange, "Nature of the Farm Problem and its Solution," Dr. Sara Branham, "Studies in Bacillary Dysentery," Dr. Willie Smith, National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Metabolic Aspects of Whole Body Irradiation," Dr. Barbara K. Campbell, National President of Sigma Delta Epsilon, "Syntheses of Compounds Used in Chemotherapy."

1951 The membership increased to 42 members. The officers were:
Elizabeth Verder - President
Edna Dyar - Vice President
Willie Smith - Secretary
Edna Main- Treasurer
Dr. Charles Dunham, Atomic Energy Commission, spoke on "Biomedical Implication of Atomic Energy," and Dr. Dale Steward Curator of Physical Anthropology of the Smithsonian Institute spoke on "Results of Anthropological Reseach on the Potomac River Indian Town in which Pocahontas was kidnapped."
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