Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1893 — A Woman Electrician. [ARTICLE]

A Woman Electrician.

The first woman electrician in the world hails from the Buckeye State. Her name is Bertha La mine. Her birthplace is Springfield, -0., aud her alma mater the Ohio State University, in whoso class of ’93 she took her degree in “electrical engineering." Miss Lamme will enter shortly the Westinghouse Electrical works at Pittsburg, where aha will exercise her skill ns a practical electrician on an equal footing with the trained corps employed there. Despite Edison's advocating woman’s adaptability for this branch of science, it remained for Miss Lamme to establish the precedent. Edison employs more than a thousand women in his various electrical works. Untrained, unskilled girls were taken Into his service, and their natural delicacy of touch and quickness of perception have developed surprising mechanical results. Whether » practical electrician, however, will ever develop from this anqy of uueducated. women remains to lie seen. Nevertheless it was the mechanical dexterity of. his women employees that led the wizard to proclaim his faith in the possibilities awaiting woman in the electrical world.

Previous to entecring the university Miss Lsmme was a country schoolteacher. A country high school prepared her tor college. A phenomenal love for mathematics, together with a desire, perhaps, to open a new field for women, urged her to follow the electrical course, which includes civil engineering. The latter embraces practical work in a blacksmith With an energy, skill and enthusiasm unequaled by auy man in the class, Miss Lsmme experimented in the handling and testing of steam and gas'engines, dynamos, motors, storage batteries, circuits, instruments, etc. She completed the course in three years, making up ■ year in which typhoid fever kept her from college by extra work. Her record as a r.tudent is unsurpassed at the university, whose electrical course ranks deservedly high. in her brother, a practical electrician, Miss Lam me found encouragement and stimulation to her unique work. It is refreshing to record that tide brilliant girl is a physical Juno with brilliant brunette coloring. Her roguish brown eyes are indicative of abounding animal spirits, as she was the pivot of every mirth provoking frolic at the university, and her amiability made her equally popular with men and women. Indeed so rich in womanliness is this fair young electrician that the greatest obstacle te the pursuance of her new calling lies in the importunities of importunate suitors.