Evelyn Walton Ordway

Evelyn M. Walton was born on 30 January 1853 to Sarah Elizabeth Davis and her husband John Burrill Walton.[1] She studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1881.[2][3] While at MIT, she published a paper on her research that was discussed in the Annual Reports of the Smithsonian.[2] She was later appointed as an assistant at MIT.[4] After her marriage in 1882 she was employed as the Professor of Chemistry and Physics at Newcomb College, the women's college associated with Tulane University.[4] She served in that position from 1887 to 1904 after which she was appointed as the professor of chemistry at Newcomb, a post she held until 1905.[5]

Ordway was a member of the American Association of University Women, and in March 1883 delivered a paper to that organisation on the Industrial Education of Women.[6] At the World Cotton Centennial in 1884, Ordway organized a collective exhibit of the scientific work conducted by women in botany, mineralogy, entomology, astronomy, chemistry, zoology, architecture, and ethnology.[7]

In 1892, Ordway became involved with the Louisiana women's suffrage movement.[8] She helped form the women's suffrage club The Portia and was appointed the club's treasurer, with Caroline E. Merrick being appointed president.[9] Two years later, Ordway attenended the 26th Annual Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in Washington, D.C. There, she discussed The Portia, a suffrage club gaining popularity in Louisiana, along with the benefits that suffrage would afford to the women of Louisiana should they gain the vote.[8] In 1896, Ordway founded the Era Club.[10] This club merged with the Portia Club in 1900 and Ordway became the first president of the resulting Louisiana State Suffrage Association.[8] She continued to work closely with Kate M. Gordon, who would later succeed her as president of the Association.[8]

By 1900, Ordway was also the president of Women's Branch Alliance, Unitarian Church, as well as the secretary of the board of the New Orleans Free Kindergarten Association.[11] Ordway was active in campaigning for women's suffrage and gave lectures including one at the Free Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans in 1901.[12] She also wrote articles documenting the history of the suffrage movement in New Orleans.[13]

She retired from her position as professor of chemistry in 1905 and, after the death of her husband in 1909, moved first to Saugus, Massachusetts, and then Lynn, Massachusetts.[4]

Ordway married Professor John Morse Ordway in 1882.[14] She died on 9 March 1928.[4]