The Legacy of Katharine D. McCormick
Katharine D. McCormick
Philanthropist and Women’s Rights Activist
Katharine Dexter McCormick (1875 – 1967) was a U.S. biologist, suffragist, and philanthropist most well-known for her financial support of the research leading to the development of the first birth control pill.
Bequeaths to Stanford University:
Katharine bequeathed $5 million to the Stanford School of Medicine for the encouragement and assistance of women in pursuing the study of medicine and biomedical research. This fund currently supports the following initiatives:
McCormick Faculty Awards: These awards provide research/project funding to junior faculty women for career advancement, or to junior faculty men or women who support the advancement of women in medicine through research. Fellows are awarded up to $30,000 per year for two years.
McCormick Travel Funds: These funds are used to support selected faculty to attend external professional development seminars. Please find a list of qualifying external professional development seminars.
McCormick Lectureship: This lectureship series Katharine McCormick’s lifelong support of women’s rights. Each year a distinguished woman scientist is invited to speak to the Stanford community about her work. Stanford students and faculty are given opportunities to network with the speaker and learn about her contributions to her field.
In addition to supporting women in medicine, funds donated by Katharine McCormick have been used to help veterans in the area. Katharine donated $250,000 to help establish, Stanford Vets Connect, a veterans center which serves as an entry for the mental health care of returning veterans and their families.
Katharine D. McCormick Distinguished Lecture Series
The Lecture Series serves to reflect McCormick’s lifelong support of women’s rights.
Her legacy of courage and innovation epitomizes the aspirations and values of OFDD and continues to serve as an inspiration in the office’s work moving forward.
See more information on this distinguished lecture series.