Born in Evanston on October 9, 1906 to Clara Matilda Schnell Peeney and Edward Peeney, Georgiana Harriet Peeney was a trailblazer for women in engineering. Her interest in the field likely stemmed from her time in the Girl Scouts, where she grew fascinated with fireless cookers. In 1925, she was accepted into Northwestern’s engineering program, and graduated with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1929, becoming only the second woman to do so. Later, she received a master’s degree in industrial engineering, also from Northwestern. Her thesis, The Advisability of Fire-Resistant Dwelling Construction, detailed the financial costs of large fires in major cities, investigating fire insurance policies, and comparing the costs and benefits of different building materials; it went above and beyond. Her dissertation advocated for houses to be built with steel frames to reduce fire and lighting risk.
After graduating, she worked for Evanston’s Dept. of Public Works for several years, before serving as engineer and assistant section chief in the military during World War II. Her knowledge of ammunition was such that she became subject to call in case of a national emergency. When the war ended, she went back to work for the Dept. of Public Works, and eventually became the first woman to serve on the NU Alumni Association. For her work, she was elected life member of the Western Society for Engineers and was given an Award of Merit. She died on October 28, 1985, aged 79, having opened the door for future women to become engineers.