b'Member News March 2024 5From the IET ArchivesThe Electrical Association for Women From the IET ArchivesNearly a century ago, on 12 November 1924, a group of engineers, teachers, Girl Guide leaders, town planning committees and industry representatives met to discuss the life-changing opportunities of a new technology, domestic electricity. They were invited to the homeall women to use electricity of Sir Charles and Lady Parsonsto improve their lives. The to listen to the engineer, MabelWomens Electrical Association Mathews. Mabel spoke aboutwas formed later that year, and her experience working as ait soon changed its name to land girl in the First World War,the Electrical Association for when an old hand advised her toWomen, or EAW. Connections for standard plugs EAW tea towellearn to work light. She saw that the new electrical technologiesThe EAW didnt just tell womenWar, wrote about her experienceelectricity, that were starting to come intoabout electricity, it expectedas Margarets apprentice: Howand then the home could help all womenthem to educate themselveswe wired a house in Paradise. campaigned work light. She said,to be informed consumers. Itfor solutions expected its members to havesolutions, a good general understandingsuch as of electrical principles and howbetter women are veryto best operate and maintaindesign, shrewd and thriftyappliances. This was helpedmore socket persons but theyby articles in the Electricaloutlets are very much apt toAge journal on subjects suchand more overlook the fact thatas cooking with electricityfunctional and lighting design. Diagrams,layouts, while encouraging thrift of ones energiesincluding instructions on how towomen to take the career is often more vital thanwire a plug, were published onopportunities offered by the Illustration from How we wired a house thrift of money. It is byposters and even on tea towels! in Paradise by Beatrice Shilling and Monanew industry.this form of thrift thatTo support professional women,Willis, Electrical Age January 1928electricity in going tothe EAW held training coursesThe EAW was closed in 1986. The EAW grew rapidly. The firstA century after its foundation, help women. for domestic science teachers,branch was set up in Glasgowmany of the EAWs themes, such and set up certificationsin 1925, and by the end ofas making smart and informed for women working asthe 1930s there were over 80choices and considering electrical demonstrators in electricitybranches in the UK and one ineconomy, are relevant again. In Mabel suggested that theshowrooms. Margaret Partridge,the Netherlands. Later, branches2024, we are celebrating the electrical industry, workingthe Devon-based electricalwere established in New ZealandEAW with a series of online and engineers, teachers andengineer, wrote a series ofand Trinidad and Tobago. It askedin person events and activities womens groups should getarticles in the journal for Girlwomen what they needed fromon women in energy. together to form a WomensGuides. Beatrice (Tilly) Shilling, Electrical Association, anwho would go on to a successfulTo find out more, you can visit:organisation which wouldcareer as an Aeronauticalwww.magnificentwomen.co.uk/electric-dreams or contact inform, educate and encourageEngineer in the Second Worldthe IET Archives team at archives@theiet.org'