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Golden, Helen, 1865-1935

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1865 - October 15, 1935

Biographical Information

Helen Golden earned her Bachelor of Science (1890) and Master of Science (1892) from Purdue University before serving as an instructor and later assistant professor in practical mechanics at Purdue. She is the first known female faculty member in engineering at Purdue.

Helen Golden was born in 1865, likely in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, and moved with her family to Massachussetts. She enrolled at Purdue University alongside her siblings, Katherine Golden Bitting and Michael Golden. After earning her degrees, she worked as an assistant principal in Lawrence, Massachussetts. Golden returned to Purdue University in 1907 as an instructor in the Department of Practical Mechanics where she predominantly taught courses in descriptive geometry. She served as an instructor from 1907 to 1917. Golden was promoted to assistant professor in 1917. She resigned in 1920 to work in the research laboratory of the Glass Container Association alongside her sister, Katherine.

She died at her home in San Fransisco, California on October 15, 1935.

Citation:
Board of Trustees minutes (1907 June 12). UA 58, Purdue University Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue Libraries. Retrieved from: https://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/digital/collection/bot/id/29745/rec/5
Citation:
Board of Trustees minutes (1920 April 14). UA 58, Purdue University Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue Libraries. Retrieved from: https://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/digital/collection/bot/id/1735/rec/6
Citation:
Deaths. (1935 1 December). Purdue Alumnus, 23(3). Retrieved from: https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=ALU19351201-01.2.71
Citation:
Helen Golden (2024, January 16). Find a grave. Retrieved from: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/263117398/helen-golden
Citation:
Klink, A. (2025). Purdue's female founders: The untold history of trailblazing women faculty. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN.