by Nancy Mehegan
I always thought ironing was... AWFUL.
As I watched my Mother iron my father's shirt, I thought "this is agony". I'd rather walk on a bed of nails. Was I alone in my loathing of ironing? And then came Ruth...
Ruth set us Free
Ruth Rogan Benerito was born in New Orleans in 1916. Her mother, a feminist, encouraged her daughter in her love of science, in spite of the rampant sexis
m she would encounter. Ruth earned scholarships and ultimately a PhD in chemistry from the University of Chicago.
Permanent Press Clothing is Born
Ruth's specialty was the use of cellulose chemistry to solve practical problems in the cotton, wood and paper industries. Then Benerito moved on to her best known work, the invention of the "easy-care cotton" process, which resulted in "wash and wear" clothing. It's also called "pernament press" fabric.
She discovered that certain chemicals — notably formaldehyde and substances related to it — could make cellulose fibers resistant to wrinkles.
I love you Ruth Rogan, I really do.
Karen, Yes -- most statues seem to glorify military figures and war, which is weird to me. A much better heroine is Ruth!!
Posted by: Nancy Mehegan | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 07:34 AM
She should definitely have a statue in her honor.
Posted by: Karen | Friday, January 21, 2011 at 11:33 AM
I had no idea a woman invented permanent press clothing. Thanks for the blog. It made my morning.
Posted by: Laura | Tuesday, June 09, 2009 at 07:58 AM