The Remarkable Life and Career of Ellen Swallow Richards: Pioneer in Science and Technology

Chapter 9

Water Water Everywhere!

“Now a new work has been put into my hands … by a Professor who does not believe in women’s education.”

~ Ellen Swallow, August 14, 1872

During 1872, MIT experienced a financial struggle and had to cut corners. Because women were usually the ones expected to sweep and dust, Ellen was assigned to replace the overworked janitor in keeping the analysis laboratory clean. Still careful to “roil no waters,” and focusing upon the value of the science degree she was to earn, Ellen stoically did the job.

In April, she received word that William Ripley Nichols, professor of analytical chemistry, wanted to speak with her. Why?, she wondered. Had she done something wrong? Nichols had vehemently opposed allowing her to study at MIT and hadn’t hidden his position. During the faculty discussion regarding whether Ellen ought to be accepted to the Institute, he had remarked that he would not teach her; as a woman, she belonged at home.

It was now nearing the end of Ellen’s third semester at MIT. Despite his feelings about women’s education, Nichols admitted that Ellen impressed him with her intelligence and ability to do chemical analyses with amazing accuracy. He called her to his office that day to say he’d selected her, above all other students and scientists, to work with him in conducting a groundbreaking water survey. He told her that only the most careful, capable scientist would do. He had witnessed the precise training Ellen had gained when studying with ...