Ruth Schwartz Cowan

Ruth Schwartz Cowan (born 1941) is an American historian of science, technology and medicine noted for her research on the history of human and medical genetics, as well as on the history of household technologies. She is the author of a widely used textbook, ''A Social History of American Technology,'' on the history of colonial American, industrial, and 20th century socio-technical relations.

Cowan was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Betty (a home-maker and antique-dealer) and Louis E. Schwartz (an attorney and office manager). She co-wrote a book detailing their assimilation as Jewish immigrants with her husband Neil.

She attended the Brooklyn public schools, graduating in 1957 from Midwood High School. Cowan received a B.A. in zoology from Barnard College in 1961, an M.A. in history from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964, and a Ph.D. in the history of science from Johns Hopkins University in 1969. Her doctoral dissertation, "Sir Francis Galton and the Study of Heredity in the 19th Century," was supervised by William Coleman.

Cowan was a professor of history and sociology of science at SUNY Stony Brook from 1967 to 2002. She also served as Director of Women's Studies from 1985 to 1990 and Chair of the Honors College from 1997 to 2002. Cowan is a Professor Emerita at the University of Pennsylvania. Provided by Wikipedia