Title

History 303 Research and Writing in History: Cal Poly History Presented to Professor Andrew Morris California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo A Course Taken in Partial Fulfillment of My Bachelor of Arts Degree in History By Victoria Duehring March 13, 2020 The Discovery of Margaret Chase and Why it Takes a Detective to Learn About Women

Author

Victoria Duehring, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Date

3-2020

Department

History Department

Class

History 303: Research and Writing Seminar in History

Advisor(s)

Andrew Morris

Abstract

Scholarly work on the experience/erasure of Miss Margaret Chase: first and only female president of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. With the main focus being on difficulties throughout her life, and impact of the male gaze on her legacy: which resulted in an extreme lack of direct primary sources. Through analysis of gender issues during Chase’s presidency and the effect of her erasure on campus it is clear that there is a disadvantage to being a woman in a position of power on Cal Poly’s campus. This disadvantage is chronicled throughout Chase’s life, but also to this day as there has yet to be another female president.

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cphistory/65