Chapter 5: Henry Armstrong: ‘Pro- or Anti-’ Women Chemists?

It was Henry Armstrong who – almost single-handedly – blocked the admission of women chemists to Fellowship of the Chemical Society. However, though there were many misogynistic chemists of the time, Armstrong cannot be considered among their number. As we will show, Armstrong took on women students, including Clare de Brereton Evens, Ida Smedley, Grace Heath, and Edna Walter. Armstrong was also a strong promoter of girls’ chemistry education.