Anna J. Harrison
A brilliant chemist and educator who shattered the American Chemical Society's highest glass ceiling while championing women in science.
1912–1998 (age 86)·American organic chemist·Birthday: December 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Anna J. Harrison approached chemistry with the mind of a researcher and the heart of a teacher. For nearly four decades, her classroom and labs at Mount Holyoke College were incubators for scientific curiosity, particularly for the women she was dedicated to empowering. Her own research in organic chemistry and spectroscopy was rigorous, but her legacy is defined by her expansive role as an advocate and leader. In 1978, she achieved a monumental first, becoming the president of the American Chemical Society—a position no woman had held in the organization's 101-year history. She used that platform not for self-congratulation, but to forcefully argue for the full inclusion of women in all scientific fields. Harrison was a sought-after voice on science education policy, serving on national committees and receiving a staggering twenty honorary degrees, each a testament to her dual impact as a scholar and a relentless force for equity.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anna was born in 1912, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1912
Anna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1912Born
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1917Started school
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Became a teenager
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Could drive
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1930Could vote
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Turned 21
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1942Turned 30
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 40
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 50
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 60
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 70
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 80
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1998Died at 86
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
Key Achievements
- Became the first female president of the American Chemical Society in 1978.
- Received twenty honorary degrees from universities across the United States.
- Served as a professor of chemistry at Mount Holyoke College for nearly forty years.
- Was a member of the National Science Board, advising the President and Congress on science policy.
Did You Know?
She was born on a farm in Benton City, Missouri.
She earned her PhD from the University of Missouri in 1940.
She served on the board of directors for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Mount Holyoke College's Harrison Hall is named in her honor.
““The most important thing is to teach people to think.””
