People often say you can’t know your future without knowing your past. And the same can be said for the future of an academic institution continuing to shape future generations. But, as students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of Toledo, how well do we know its history? This series, entitled #RocketBlastFromThePast, was started by Juice House as a social media series to discover our shared legacy as Toledo Rockets by diving into the digital archives of the Canaday Center and sharing interesting tidbits and fun facts of UToledo’s rich history that encourages a sense of pride in our institution. Now brought to you as a collection, it’s more than a trip down memory lane; it’s an exploration and transportation from the past to the present, with a vision and inspiration guiding us into a bright future and beyond.
Have you ever wondered about the woman for whom the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women is named after? Who was she and why is she remembered? In honor of Women’s History Month, this week’s #rocketblastfromthepast 🚀 features the history behind the center.
Catharine S. Eberly served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Toledo in the 1970’s, and in her role was an advocate for women’s education. She helped create a women’s center on campus in 1978, but unfortunately passed away soon after in a car accident. As a memorial to her, the center was named after her in 1980.
Images on the left and right courtesy of the University of Toledo Digital Repository.
In honor of her legacy, the center continued to grow. With a goal to promote and advance gender equity, it has initiated multiple programs over the past 45 years. The center also offers special scholarships for women and initiated Kate’s Closet where female students can get free professional clothing. Today, Kate’s Closet has transformed into the Rocket Style Career Closet. Their programs are open to students, alumni, faculty, staff and the community.
This series is continuing to grow! To stay up to date with new posts in this social media series, follow Juice House at @juicehousetoledo.