The Fearless Patron, Katharine Dexter McCormick

The Fearless Patron, Katharine Dexter McCormickBefore the birth control pill transformed modern reproductive health, there was a woman willing to put her education, influence, and fortune behind an idea that many institutions were unwilling to touch.Katharine Dexter McCormick was far more than a wealthy heiress. A biology graduate of MIT, suffragist, philanthropist, and advocate for women's education, she spent decades challenging the limitations placed on women in science, politics, and private life.Her story took a dramatic turn after she gained control of her husband's fortune. Working closely with Margaret Sanger, McCormick helped provide the financial support that allowed biologist Gregory Pincus and his collaborators to pursue the research that ultimately led to the development of the oral contraceptive pill. She did not simply write checks from a distance. She followed the research closely, pressed for progress, and committed millions of dollars to the project.In 1960, the FDA approved the Pill for contraceptive use, marking a major moment in the history of reproductive medicine.But McCormick's legacy did not end there. She also directed substantial philanthropy toward women's education, including the creation of McCormick Hall at MIT, helping expand opportunities for women students in science and higher education.The Fearless Patron tells the remarkable public story of a wealthy woman who used money, scientific knowledge, persistence, and influence to support projects that changed the course of women's history.From the laboratories of MIT to the controversial research behind the Pill, this is the story of Katharine Dexter McCormick—and the fortune she decided should do more than sit in a bank.