Gerda Lerner

Gerda Lerner (1920–2013) was a pioneering historian and author who founded the field of women’s history. She held academic positions at Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she established the first doctoral program in women’s history. Her work emphasized recovering marginalized voices and challenging historical narratives that excluded women and people of color.

• Education: BA (New School for Social Research), MA/PhD (Columbia University)
• Key Roles: Professor of History, Program Founder in Women’s History

Her research focused on structural injustice, feminist historiography, and the intersection of activism and scholarship. Lerner’s books, including The Creation of Patriarchy and Black Women in White America, redefined historical methodologies by centering women’s experiences. Her courses and programs emphasized outreach and curriculum development to legitimize women’s history as an academic discipline.

Her life experiences—including imprisonment by the Nazis and involvement in the Communist Party—shaped her commitment to social justice. Lerner’s work remains foundational in feminist theory and historical scholarship.