Historical Articles

August, 1953 issue of Plating

 

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First Women Delegates at Philadelphia

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Madzik

The Fortieth Annual Convention held at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia saw the establishment of another ”first” in the long history of the Society. The event that put the pen of the historian to work was the presence of two women delegates at the business sessions: Mrs. Julia Madzik of the Hartford Branch and Miss Edna Rohrabaugh of the Indianapolis Branch. It was during the world struggle of the 1940’s that Mrs. Madzik took the step that led her to her ultimate association with the A. E. S. She began her employment with the Connecticut Telephone and Electric Company in Meriden where her duties as a laboratory assistant sparked further interest in metal finishing operations. Her ability in the field led to recognition by her employers in the form of promotions so that she is now in charge of their chemical laboratory.

Julie, as she is usually called, became a member of the Hartford Branch in May, 1947 and was elected to serve on the Educational Committee of the Branch for the 1950-1951 term and again for another term from 1951-1952. She was elected to the office of Branch First Vice-President for the 1952-1953 year and will serve as President of the Hartford Branch for the current term, 1953-1954.

As far as is known, Mrs. Madzik is the first woman to hold this high office. Julie has served as technical chairman on several occasions and has been of tremendous help whenever her Branch has held a Ladies’ Night affair. She attended Hillyer Junior College in Hartford, is married and has one daughter.

Rohrabaugh

Miss Rohrabaugh began her association in the plating industry when she started working for the Lafayette Plating and Enameling Company, Lafayette, Ind., in February, 1930 after her graduation from high school and upon the completion of a five-months’ business college course.

Her initial job with the company as a bookkeeper and stenographer exposed her to the many fascinations of the plating business. Her thirst for more information of the game led her to learn more and more of its numerous technical and practical phases. Since her employer’s plant was a general job shop, she had every opportunity to learn much about the art. Following the death of the owner about five years ago, Miss Rohrabaugh was asked to manage the business. During those five years she has added to- her lore of job shop operations, but still feels that something new can be learned in the plating business every day.

She has been active in the affairs of the Indianapolis Branch and is again serving another term as secretary of that group. She states that she is proud at having been chosen for that office and feels that there is a place for women in the plating field.