Ann Fletcher Oral History
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Dublin Core
Title
Ann Fletcher Oral History
Description
Ann Fletcher chose engineering as a second career option, after teaching music for nearly ten years. Her career switch is a good example of the new opportunities that opened up to women as a result of WWII. She attended Wayne State University's College of Engineering from 1942-44, joining Bendix Aviation Corporation Research Labs in 1943 as a patent draftsman.
In 1947 Fletcher began work as an industrial illustrator and patent draftsman at Ford Motor Company where she worked for 21 years. As the only industrial illustrator at Ford, she worked closely with inventors to produce illustrations for product, design, chemical, and metallurgical inventions, among others. Her last position before retiring in 1978 was as Technical Assistant to Chief Engineer at the Shatterproof Glass Corporation. Her assignment entailed duties from various technical analyses to reports and surveys for the Environmental Protection Agency.
An early member of SWE, Fletcher experienced several "firsts" in her profession. It was during her position at Shatterproof that she became one of two women in the Society of Engineering Illustrators, serving two terms as president. She also became the first woman elected as fellow of the Engineering Society of Detroit and later to its board of directors. Fletcher received statewide recognition when in 1975 she was appointed to the Michigan State Registration Board of Professional Community Planners, the first woman to assume that responsibility.
In 1947 Fletcher began work as an industrial illustrator and patent draftsman at Ford Motor Company where she worked for 21 years. As the only industrial illustrator at Ford, she worked closely with inventors to produce illustrations for product, design, chemical, and metallurgical inventions, among others. Her last position before retiring in 1978 was as Technical Assistant to Chief Engineer at the Shatterproof Glass Corporation. Her assignment entailed duties from various technical analyses to reports and surveys for the Environmental Protection Agency.
An early member of SWE, Fletcher experienced several "firsts" in her profession. It was during her position at Shatterproof that she became one of two women in the Society of Engineering Illustrators, serving two terms as president. She also became the first woman elected as fellow of the Engineering Society of Detroit and later to its board of directors. Fletcher received statewide recognition when in 1975 she was appointed to the Michigan State Registration Board of Professional Community Planners, the first woman to assume that responsibility.
Oral History Item
Interviewer
Lauren Kata
Interviewee
Fletcher, Ann O.
Date Recorded
2003-04-04
Coverage
1930’s-present
Citation
“Ann Fletcher Oral History,” Michigan Oral History Database, accessed December 28, 2024, http://www.database.michiganoha.org/items/show/296.