Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2009, History (Arts and Sciences)

For women, the passage of secular and ecclesiastical laws to ban overt forms of discrimination and open corporate and cultural opportunities is a necessary step toward the full inclusion in society. However, even as American women's legal standing imporved throughout the 20th century, they encountered subtle forms of discrimination: vestiges of 19th century coverture. Jeannette Ridlon Piccard's life (1895-1981) uniquely illustrates the struggles during the 20th century for women in the spheres of citizenship, science and religion, particularly the Anglican tradition. Piccard was not "protected" by her husband's citizenship; she was not "protected from the rigors of science; nor was she "protected from the rigors of religion. Rather the vestiges of coverture protected men's domains from her inclusion. Piccard did not accept the exclusionary practices, challenging and overcoming barriers to women in space exploration and women as Episcopal priests. Sources employed include manuscript collections; interviews with family members; letters and memoirs; religious and science periodicals; congressional documents and court cases.

Committee: Katherine Jellison PhD (Advisor); Sholeh Quinn PhD (Committee Member); Chester Pach PhD (Committee Member); Julie White PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: American History