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Pickering's Harem, Harvard Computers, 1890

Harvard computers, circa 1890. Standing, at left: Edward Charles Pickering; seated, third from left, with magnifying glass: Antonia Maury; standing, at center: Williamina Fleming. Edward Pickering (director of the Harvard Observatory from 1877 to 1919) decided to hire women as skilled workers to process astronomical data. Among these women were Williamina Fleming, Annie Jump Cannon, Henrietta Swan Leavitt and Antonia Maury. This staff came to be known as "Pickering's Harem" or, more respectfully, as the Harvard Computers. The first woman hired was Williamina Fleming, who was working as a maid for Pickering. It seems that Pickering was increasingly frustrated with his male assistants and declared that even his maid could do a better job. Apparently he was not mistaken, as Fleming undertook her assigned chores efficiently. When the Harvard Observatory received in 1886 a generous donation from the widow of Henry Draper, Pickering decided to hire more female staff and put Fleming in charge of them. Although some of Pickering's female staff were astronomy graduates, their wages were similar to those of unskilled workers. They usually earned between 25 and 50 cents per hour, more than a factory worker but less than a clerical one.
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Titre:
Pickering's Harem, Harvard Computers, 1890
Légende:
Traduction automatique: Ordinateurs de Harvard, vers 1890. Debout, à gauche : Edward Charles Pickering ; assise, troisième à partir de la gauche, avec une loupe : Antonia Maury ; debout, au centre : Williamina Fleming. Edward Pickering (directeur de l'observatoire de Harvard de 1877 à 1919) décide d'embaucher des femmes comme ouvrières qualifiées pour traiter les données astronomiques. Parmi ces femmes se trouvent Williamina Fleming, Annie Jump Cannon, Henrietta Swan Leavitt et Antonia Maury. Cette équipe est connue sous le nom de « Harem de Pickering » ou, plus respectueusement, de Harvard Computers. La première femme embauchée est Williamina Fleming, qui travaille comme femme de ménage pour Pickering. Il semble que Pickering soit de plus en plus frustré par ses assistants masculins et déclare que même sa femme de ménage pourrait faire un meilleur travail. Apparemment, il ne se trompe pas, car Fleming s'acquitte efficacement des tâches qui lui sont assignées. Lorsque l'observatoire de Harvard reçut en 1886 un généreux don de la veuve d'Henry Draper, Pickering décida d'embaucher davantage de femmes et confia leur direction à Fleming. Bien que certaines des employées de Pickering soient diplômées en astronomie, leurs salaires étaient similaires à ceux des ouvriers non qualifiés. Elles gagnaient généralement entre 25 et 50 cents de l'heure, soit plus qu'un ouvrier d'usine mais moins qu'un employé de bureau.
Harvard computers, circa 1890. Standing, at left: Edward Charles Pickering; seated, third from left, with magnifying glass: Antonia Maury; standing, at center: Williamina Fleming. Edward Pickering (director of the Harvard Observatory from 1877 to 1919) decided to hire women as skilled workers to process astronomical data. Among these women were Williamina Fleming, Annie Jump Cannon, Henrietta Swan Leavitt and Antonia Maury. This staff came to be known as "Pickering's Harem" or, more respectfully, as the Harvard Computers. The first woman hired was Williamina Fleming, who was working as a maid for Pickering. It seems that Pickering was increasingly frustrated with his male assistants and declared that even his maid could do a better job. Apparently he was not mistaken, as Fleming undertook her assigned chores efficiently. When the Harvard Observatory received in 1886 a generous donation from the widow of Henry Draper, Pickering decided to hire more female staff and put Fleming in charge of them. Although some of Pickering's female staff were astronomy graduates, their wages were similar to those of unskilled workers. They usually earned between 25 and 50 cents per hour, more than a factory worker but less than a clerical one.
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Album / Science Source
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Modèle: Non - Propriété: Non
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Taille de l'image:
4500 x 3520 px | 45.3 MB
Taille d'impression:
38.1 x 29.8 cm | 15.0 x 11.7 in (300 dpi)
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