LYDIA ROBERTS FISCHER: TEACHING FOR THE DURATION

 

During World War II the University of Kentucky began hiring women faculty for the duration of the war.  Lydia Roberts Fischer became one of the first women hired. 

Lydia Roberts, 1928

A Lexington native, her parents owned the L.L. Roberts Furniture Company in a building that is now part of “The Square” in downtown Lexington.  Fischer graduated from UK in 1929 with a degree in mathematics.  While in college she became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Theta Sigma Phi (journalism honorary), Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics honorary), and Kappa Delta sorority.

Following graduation Fischer began working towards a M.A. in mathematics.  Upon learning of her plans to marry while still in graduate school, professors in the mathematics department told Fischer, "Well, that [marriage] does you in.  You won't get your master’s."  Fischer responded without hesitation, "Oh, I think I shall!" - and she did in 1931.  Still, Fischer had no plans for a career other than "housewife and mother" until she divorced her husband in 1937.  As a mother of two small children she knew she must do something "to earn a living" and enrolled in education classes at the university.  

Securing a position teaching math at Lexington's Morton Junior High School, Fischer soon learned that she did not enjoy teaching junior high students and approached UK Dean of Arts and Science Paul Boyd about the possibility of teaching at UK.  Boyd offered her a position teaching math classes.  For the next several years Fischer taught "regular student" mathematics classes during the war while the men faculty in the department taught the A.S.T.P. [Army Specialized Training Program] classes. 

Fischer told me that she never felt discriminated against by the male faculty and administrators until one day she learned that men hired to do the same work as she in mathematics made $250 a month as compared to her $150.  She immediately went to see Dean Boyd and asked about the discrepancy in the salaries.  Boyd responded, "Well, I thought you were just teaching for the love of it anyway."  Fisher replied sarcastically, "the money does help a little bit!"  Following her conversation with the dean, Fischer's salary increased to $250 a month, the same as the men.

Lydia Roberts Fischer, 1968

After the war Fischer began teaching math at Lexington's Lafayette High School where she became recognized as one of the schools outstanding teachers.

Lydia Roberts Fischer was interviewed October 16 and 26, 1989, for the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History.  The interviews can be found at https://kentuckyoralhistory.org. 

 

Additional information about the history of women students, faculty, and staff can be found in the recently published, Our Rightful Place: A History of Women at the University of Kentucky, 1880-1945.

https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813179377/our-rightful-place/