Florence Schaeffer, (1900-1983) a woman of German descent born in New Jersey in the early 1900s, was a pioneering figure in chemistry and education. Inspired by the college’s strong research culture, she later pursued doctoral studies at Yale University under Treat Baldwin Johnson, focusing on antiseptic synthesis. Though Schaeffer did not complete her Ph.D., she could still publish several research papers with other colleagues. She also made a lasting impact at the Woman’s College of UNC (now UNCG), where she became Head of the Chemistry Department in 1934. She was instrumental in fostering a rigorous scientific program and mentoring countless young women in STEM fields. Her legacy lives on through the many students she inspired, whose contributions to science and society continue to be uncovered through archival research. This project builds upon Dr. Alice Haddy’s research to highlight Schaeffer’s influence and the overlooked achievements of women in chemistry at UNCG.
