Katharine Dexter McCormick: Making a Local and National Impact

Several Elk Rapids’ organizations are coming together to celebrate the life and contributions of Katharine Dexter McCormick, a Michigan-born woman and national advocate who donated the island and island house to the Village of Elk Rapids.
Born on August 27, 1875, Dexter McCormick was a U.S. biologist, suffragette, and philanthropist who is perhaps best known for funding the research necessary to develop the birth control pill. A pioneer in women’s rights was just one of her ground-breaking accomplishments. Throughout her life, she broke down barriers, including being only the second woman to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
A pioneer and advocate for women, the Village of Elk Rapids, in cooperation with several other local organizations, will honor Dexter McCormick on the 143^rd anniversary of her birth, Monday, August 27, at the Elk Rapids Historical Society Museum (301 Traverse St., Elk Rapids) at 7 p.m. The public is invited to join in the celebration of McCormick’s contributions to women’s health, women’s voting rights, and education. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information on the event, contact Barb Mullaly at bmullaly@elkrapids.org or 231-883-5325.