Cora Sutton Castle

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Cora Sutton Castle
Born
Cora Olive Sutton

(1880-05-10)May 10, 1880
DiedAugust 14, 1966(1966-08-14) (aged 86)
Occupations
Academic background
Alma mater
ThesisA Statistical Study of Eminent Women (1913)
Doctoral advisorJames McKeen Cattell

Cora Olive Sutton Castle (May 10, 1880 – August 14, 1966) was an American educator, sociologist, author, and clubwoman based in San Francisco, California.

Early life and education[edit]

Cora Olive Sutton was born in Prior Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of Andrew Stewart Sutton and Harriet Snow Sutton. She earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota in 1905, and a master's degree in literature[1] at the University of California.[2]

A Statistical Study of Eminent Women and other work[edit]

Cora Sutton Castle earned her doctorate in the psychology department at Columbia University in 1913, with a dissertation titled A Statistical Study of Eminent Women,[3] the title a direct reference to her advisor James McKeen Cattell's paper, "A Statistical Study of Eminent Men" (1903). In her version of the study, she asked, "Has innate inferiority been the reason for the small number of eminent women, or has civilization never yet allowed them an opportunity to develop their innate powers and possibilities?"[4] Her dissertation was published as a book the next year,[5] and is still read and cited as an early example of collective biography of women.[6]

Castle served as president of the San Francisco City Federation of Women's Clubs from 1918 to 1920,[7] and in that role helped establish the "New Outside Inn," to host visiting family members of servicemen being treated at the Letterman Army Hospital.[8]

Castle survived a fatal shipwreck in China in 1926, while traveling.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Cora Sutton married Harry Edward Castle, a surgeon, in 1910. They lived in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco for many years, while he served as the hotel doctor. Cora Sutton Castle was widowed in 1949 and died from cancer in 1966, aged 86 years.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cora Sutton, "Gray's Contribution to the Romantic Movement" (M. L. thesis, University of California, 1908).
  2. ^ a b Laura Ball, "Cora Sutton Castle" Psychology's Feminist Voices profile (2010).
  3. ^ Cora Sutton Castle, A Statistical Study of Eminent Women (Ph.D. dissertation, Columbia University, 1913).
  4. ^ Arika Okrent, "The Klout Score of 1903: A Statistical Study of Eminent Men" The Week (May 11, 2013).
  5. ^ "Comprehensive Study of the World's Greatest Women Out" Oregon Daily Journal (June 14, 1914): 26. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  6. ^ Gaby Weiner, "Olive Banks and the Collective Biography of British Feminism" British Journal of Sociology of Education 29(4)(July 2008): 404-405.
  7. ^ "S. F. Club Women Hold Convention and Name Leader" San Francisco Chronicle (June 8, 1918): 5. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  8. ^ Louis Lyons and Josephine Wilson, eds., Who's Who Among the Women of California (Security Publishing Company 1922): 105.
  9. ^ "S. F. Writer Rescued in Ship Wreck" Oakland Tribune (December 13, 1926): 3. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon