Eleanor Greiner

Described as pint-sized and blonde, Eleanor Greiner Gabriel was a SWE Founding Member of the Philadelphia Section. She was one of the under graduate engineers who joined with the women engineering students to develop the SWE organization begun by students at the Drexel Institute of Technology, now Drexel University, in the mid 1940s. After the Society was charted in 1950, Eleanor remained active with the Drexel section as Vice President and Assistant Corresponding Secretary of the Philadelphia District.

A 1946 graduate of Philadelphia High School for Girls, Eleanor decided she wanted to become an engineer when Betty MacFadden Jay came and spoke to the school about being a mechanical engineer. Eleanor graduated at the head of her class from Drexel Institute of Technology in 1951 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. During her co-ops she worked for the American Viscose Corporation, Sun Oil Company, and the Navy Yard. After graduating she continued to work for Sun Oil Company. Eleanor felt that as a woman engineer she didn’t have any difficulty finding work.

During her years at Drexel, Eleanor was also involved with Woman’s Badge Tau Beta Pi, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Sigma Sigma Sigma, and the Federation of Engineers. Eleanor’s favorite hobbies were ballet dancing and playing the piano.

Sources:
THE LEXARD, Drexel Yearbook, 1950 and 1951.
Rabbitt, Kay. “She Proves Skill in Man’s Realm.” THE SUNDAY BULLETIN. May 1951.

Mission: Stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, demonstrate the value of diversity.