Ruth Schwartz Cowan

Cowan was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Betty (a home-maker and antique-dealer) and Louis E. Schwartz (an attorney and office manager).

She co-wrote a book detailing their assimilation as Jewish immigrants with her husband Neil.

[2] Her doctoral dissertation, "Sir Francis Galton and the Study of Heredity in the 19th Century," was supervised by William Coleman.

"[3] Cowan's More Work for Mother received the Dexter Prize from the Society for the History of Technology in 1984.

[3] In 1997 the Society for the History of Technology also awarded her the Leonardo da Vinci Medal.