Autor: Nicholas Murray Butler

M. Carey Thomas (1857–1935) was a pivotal figure in the advancement of higher education for women in the United States. An educator, feminist, and suffragist, Thomas is best remembered for her influential role as the second President of Bryn Mawr College, where she served from 1894 to 1922, and for her efforts to raise academic standards for women»s education to equal those of men»s. Thomas»s seminal work, «Education of Women, » underscores her advocacy for rigorous academic training for women and argues for women»s equal access to all fields of higher education, a radical proposition at the time. Her book contributed significantly to the discourse on women»s education and has been cited in historical studies on the subject. As an author, Thomas»s literary style is marked by firm assertiveness and intellectual rigor, reflecting her unwavering commitment to education and gender equality. Throughout her career, Thomas broke barriers, including becoming the first woman to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Zurich. Despite her progressive views on education, her legacy is complicated by her espousal of eugenicist and racist beliefs typical of many in her time. Nevertheless, M. Carey Thomas»s contributions to women»s higher education remain a significant part of her enduring legacy.