Kate Gleason

Catherine Anselm Gleason
Born	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Died	January 9, 1933(1933-01-09) (aged 67) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Other names	Kate Gleason
Occupation(s)	Engineer, entrepreneur, bank president
Years active	Late 19th century–early 20th century
Known for	First female member of ASME; contributions to machine tool industry; president of First National Bank of East Rochester; inspiration for Kate Gleason College of Engineering at RIT

Catherine Anselm Gleason (November 24, 1865 – January 9, 1933) was a distinguished American engineer and entrepreneur, recognized for her influential involvement in the family-operated Gleason Works and her groundbreaking contributions to both engineering and finance. She played a vital role in advancing the machine tool sector, became the inaugural female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1914, and is the inspiration behind the Kate Gleason College of Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Early life and education

Hailing from Rochester, New York, Gleason was the firstborn of William and Ellen McDermott Gleason, who emigrated from Ireland. Her father managed Gleason Works, a premier machine tool manufacturer renowned for its specialization in gear cutting, including the creation of an automatic bevel gear planer in 1874. After the passing of her stepbrother Tom—who had been involved with the company—Gleason took on bookkeeping responsibilities to help sustain business operations.

At age 19 in 1884, she became the first woman admitted to Cornell University's Mechanical Arts program. However, financial strains at Gleason Works compelled her to withdraw and return home to directly address company challenges. Though she did not earn a formal degree, Gleason cultivated her engineering skills through hands-on work and part-time education at Sibley College of Engineering and The Mechanics Institute (now Rochester Institute of Technology), ultimately establishing herself as a prominent engineer and executive.

Gleason Works

Within Gleason Works, Gleason rapidly progressed to roles including company secretary, treasurer, and traveling sales representative. The 1890s experienced a surge in gear demand driven by bicycle and automobile industries. In 1893, she embarked on a European tour to broaden the company’s international customer base—an early example of American industrial globalization—and secured multiple overseas clients. She later represented the firm at the Paris Exhibition in 1900. By 1997, international sales had become a dominant revenue stream, comprising nearly three-quarters of total sales.

Fred H. Colvin likened Gleason to "a kind of Madame Curie of machine tools," highlighting her extensive technical expertise acquired through practical experience. Gleason attributed her achievements to distinguishing herself within a male-centric field: "In those early days I was a freak; I talked of gears when a woman was not supposed to know what a gear was... they were at least interested in seeing me." To enhance customer engagement, she cultivated a public persona featuring feminine dress, humor, and voice training. James Gleason, who later served as CEO, credited much of the company’s worldwide expansion to her initiatives.

A common misconception claimed she invented the bevel planer used by the company—a notion popularized by Henry Ford—but this device was actually developed by her father.

As business growth necessitated larger premises, operations moved from Brown's Race to University Avenue between 1904 and 1911. Gleason designed the new foundry inspired by Pisa Cathedral architecture to support overhead crane systems. During this era, she also constructed her personal home named Clones, in tribute to her mother’s Irish birthplace.

Later career

In 1913, Gleason parted ways with Gleason Works due to familial disagreements. By January 1914, she assumed the role of bankruptcy receiver at the Ingle Machine Company, marking her as one of the earliest women to hold such a position appointed by an American bankruptcy court. Through her guidance, the company regained financial stability, cleared its obligations, and resumed dividend payments to shareholders by the close of 1915.

Gleason was named president of the First National Bank of East Rochester in 1918 after the incumbent president moved abroad. Her administration emphasized real estate and construction initiatives, including the establishment of eight new enterprises. Among her significant achievements was the creation of the Concrest Community in East Rochester, where she utilized concrete pouring and mass production methods derived from Gleason Works to construct affordable, fire-resistant homes priced below $4,000.

Throughout the 1920s, Gleason explored business ventures both within the United States and internationally, with activities spanning France, California, and South Carolina. In France’s Septmonts, she acquired and restored a castle, adding a library and cinema as a tribute to the American Expeditionary Forces. While in California, she studied adobe architecture and provided consultation to Berkeley in 1924 for rebuilding efforts after a fire. She also initiated poured concrete housing projects in Sausalito; however, these endeavors were less successful compared to her developments in Rochester.

At her winter home in Beaufort, South Carolina, Gleason designed a garden apartment complex intended for artists and writers. Only ten units were completed before her passing; her sister Eleanor completed the project, which opened in 1933.

Personal life

The Gleason family maintained a friendship with Rochester native Susan B. Anthony, who offered Kate advice on business matters and publicity strategies. In 1906, Gleason hosted Anthony’s 86th birthday celebration shortly before Anthony’s death. She was an ardent advocate for women’s voting rights, donating $1,200 to the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1912—one of its most substantial contributions. Gleason chose not to marry or have children, believing that marriage would impede her professional ambitions.

During the 1920s, Gleason was active in philanthropy, making generous contributions to orphanages, libraries, and educational institutions. In 1929, she donated a sizable property to the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Death and legacy

In 1913, Gleason became the first woman elected to the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure. The following year, she broke new ground as the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), soon joined by Lydia Weld. Representing ASME at the 1930 World Conference on Power held in Germany, she also became the inaugural female member of the American Concrete Institute due to her contributions to construction.

Gleason passed away from pneumonia on January 9, 1933, and was interred at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester. She bequeathed $348,000 from her $1.4 million estate to medical professionals and institutions in the Rochester area, including libraries and parks. Her land donation along South Carolina’s Beaufort River facilitated the founding of Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

The Gleason Corporation remains active today with enduring connections to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). In recognition of her legacy, RIT named its engineering college after her—the Kate Gleason College of Engineering—in 1998 following a $10 million gift from the corporation. A residence hall at RIT also honors her name. In 2010, RIT Press released a compilation of Gleason's correspondence. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers established the Kate Gleason Award in 2011 to honor her trailblazing role for women within engineering fields.