“Women representing the engineering profession must be of unquestionable professional status,” explained Past President Katharine Stinson in the November 1956 SWE Newsletter. “We are a minority group, and for many years to come, whether we like it or not, we must accept the fact that the qualifications of women engineers are subject to closer scrutiny than those of men.”
While not strictly necessary for many positions, in its early years SWE sections often encouraged their members to pursue professional registration, reinforcing their credentials for skeptical male peers. “We have MANY who are qualified but who — so far — have not made the extra effort needed,” noted Tess Tierney in the November 1957 SWE Detroit newsletter, continuing, “We want to supply that extra helpful push.” To that end, Tierney encouraged members to form a weekly study group preparing themselves for the first part of the licensing exam. “Think about this,” she demanded. “You can only gain by trying.”
– Troy Eller English, SWE Archivist