{"history":[],"article":{"id":"90a3db5d-b136-4e0d-b2fc-ceba0a401291","title":"Dorothy C. Stratton","slug":"dorothy-c-stratton","content":":::summary\n![Capt. Dorothy Stratton during World War II](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Dorothycstratton.jpg)\n**Name:** Dorothy Constance Stratton \n**Birth Date:** March 24, 1899 \n**Death Date:** September 17, 2006 \n**Birth Place:** [Brookfield, Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/brookfield-missouri), U.S. \n**Death Place:** [West Lafayette, Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-lafayette-indiana), U.S. \n**Allegiance:** United States \n**Branch:** [United States Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-coast-guard) \n**Serviceyears:** 1942–1946 \n**Rank:** [Captain](https://bliptext.com/articles/captain-united-states) \n**Commands:** [SPARS](https://bliptext.com/articles/spars) \n**Battles:** [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii) \n**Awards:** [Legion of Merit](https://bliptext.com/articles/legion-of-merit) (1946) \n**Laterwork:** Director of Personnel (1947–1950), [International Monetary Fund](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-monetary-fund); · Executive Director (1950–1960), [Girl Scouts of the USA](https://bliptext.com/articles/girl-scouts-of-the-usa) \n:::\n\n# \n**Dorothy Constance Stratton** (March 24, 1899 – September 17, 2006) is best known as the first director of the [SPARS](https://bliptext.com/articles/spars), the [U.S. Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-coast-guard) Women's Reserve.\nIn 1942, she became the first woman to be commissioned an officer in U.S. Coast Guard and is credited with giving its Women's Reserve program the name of SPARS, an acronym created from the Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus, and its English translation, Always Ready.\n[Lieutenant Commander](https://bliptext.com/articles/lieutenant-commander) Stratton attained the rank of [captain](https://bliptext.com/articles/captain) in February 1944 and served as director of the SPARS from 1942 until January 1946.\nShe was also a trailblazer for women in other areas.\nShe became [Purdue University](https://bliptext.com/articles/purdue-university)'s first full-time Dean of Women (1933–1942) and the first director of personnel at the [International Monetary Fund](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-monetary-fund) (1947–1950).\nStratton also served as the national executive director of the [Girl Scouts of the USA](https://bliptext.com/articles/girl-scouts-of-the-usa) (1950–1960).\nStratton was the recipient of awards for her public service and leadership that included a [Legion of Merit](https://bliptext.com/articles/legion-of-merit) for her contributions to women in the military, the [Ottawa University](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottawa-university) Alumni Association's Outstanding Achievement Award, and the [University of Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-chicago)'s Alumni Association's Public Service Award.\nShe was awarded honorary degrees from several American colleges and universities, such as Ottawa University, [Smith College](https://bliptext.com/articles/smith-college), and Purdue University, among others.\nStratton is the namesake of the Coast Guard's third [National Security Cutter](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-security-cutter), the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752), the first [National Security Cutter](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-security-cutter) to be named after a woman.\n\n# Early life and education\nDorothy Constance Stratton, the daughter of Reverend Richard L. Stratton and Anna (Troxler) Stratton, was born on March 24, 1899, in [Brookfield, Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/brookfield-missouri).\nStratton's father was a [Baptist](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) minister.\nHer brother, Richard C. Stratton, served as a [captain](https://bliptext.com/articles/captain) in the [U.S. Army](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-army)'s [Medical Reserve Corps](https://bliptext.com/articles/medical-reserve-corps) during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nStratton's family traveled across the [Midwest](https://bliptext.com/articles/midwestern-united-states) during her youth and she attended high schools in [Lamar, Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamar-missouri), and [Blue Rapids, Kansas](https://bliptext.com/articles/blue-rapids-kansas).\nShe earned a [Bachelor of Arts](https://bliptext.com/articles/bachelor-of-arts) degree from [Ottawa University](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottawa-university) in 1920, a [Master of Arts](https://bliptext.com/articles/master-of-arts) in psychology from the [University of Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-chicago), and a [doctorate](https://bliptext.com/articles/doctor-of-philosophy) (Ph.D.) in student personnel administration from [Columbia University](https://bliptext.com/articles/columbia-university).\nShe also studied at [Northwestern University](https://bliptext.com/articles/northwestern-university); the [University of Washington](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-washington); [University of California, Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-california-los-angeles) (UCLA); and [University of California, Berkeley](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-california-berkeley) (UC-Berkeley).\nWhile pursuing her advanced degrees, Stratton taught at school in Brookfield, Missouri; [Renton, Washington](https://bliptext.com/articles/renton-washington); and [San Bernardino, California](https://bliptext.com/articles/san-bernardino-california).\n\n# Career\n\n## Purdue University, Dean of Women\nIn 1933, after receiving her Ph.D. from Columbia, Stratton joined the staff at [Purdue University](https://bliptext.com/articles/purdue-university) in [West Lafayette, Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-lafayette-indiana), and became as its first full-time Dean of Women.\nShe was also an assistant professor of psychology at Purdue and became a full professor in 1940.\nDuring her nine years at Purdue, the university's enrollment of women increased from 500 to more than 1,400.\nA large part of the increase was attributed to her efforts to develop an experimental curriculum that attracted women who preferred to study subjects other than home economics.\nStratton created a liberal science curriculum for women in the university's School of Science, as well as a women's employment placement center.\nIn addition, she helped establish a specialized training program that provided intensive training for fraternity and sorority housemothers across the country.\nStratton also managed the construction of three new residence halls for women on Purdue's campus in West Lafayette.\n\n## Military service\nIn 1942 Stratton took a leave of absence from Purdue University and was commissioned as a [lieutenant](https://bliptext.com/articles/lieutenant) in the Women's Reserve of the [U.S. Naval Reserve](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-navy-reserve), which was also known as the [WAVES](https://bliptext.com/articles/waves) (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service).\nShe later credited [Lillian Moller Gilbreth](https://bliptext.com/articles/lillian-moller-gilbreth), professor of engineering at Purdue, for encouraging her to join the military, but she also recalled that she was willing \"to do whatever I could to serve my country\" and did not need much encouragement.\nStratton was among the members of the first class of the U.S. Naval Training Station at [Smith College](https://bliptext.com/articles/smith-college) in [Northampton, Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/northampton-massachusetts).\nAfter completing her initial training, she briefly served as Assistant to the Commanding Officer of the radio school for WAVES at [Madison, Wisconsin](https://bliptext.com/articles/madison-wisconsin).\nIn November 1942, after [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://bliptext.com/articles/franklin-d-roosevelt) signed an amendment to Public Law 773 to create a women's reserve for the [U.S. Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-coast-guard), Stratton became the first woman to be accepted into the new program.\nShe was immediately transferred from the [U.S. Navy](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-navy) to the U.S. Coast Guard and was sent to the office of the [Commandant of the Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/commandant-of-the-coast-guard) in [Washington, D.C.](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-d-c) to organize the Coast Guard Women's Reserve.\nStratton was appointed the first director of the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, promoted to the rank of [lieutenant commander](https://bliptext.com/articles/lieutenant-commander), and became the first woman commissioned an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.\nShe rose through the ranks and in February 1944 was promoted to the rank of captain.\nStratton developed the Coast Guard Women's Reserve program and gave it the name of [SPARS](https://bliptext.com/articles/spars), an acronym created from the Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus, and its English translation, Always Ready.\nAs director of the SPARS, a position that Stratton held until 1946, her primary role was to originate policies for SPARS that related to procurement, training, utilization, and maintenance of its members' morale.\nShe oversaw significant growth in the program.\nMore than 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 commissioned officers served as SPARS in the remaining years of the war.\nStratton retired from the military in January 1946.\nStratton remained proud of the fact the U.S. Coast Guard used the highest percentage of women of any military branch of service during the war.\n# [SPARS Recruitment Poster | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/%22Join///the///Spars-Women%27s///Reserve///U.S.///Coast///Guard%22///-///NARA///-///515461.jpg]\n\n## Return to civilian life\nStratton remained active in the years following her military service.\nFrom 1947 to 1950, she worked for the [International Monetary Fund](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-monetary-fund) as its first director of personnel.\nIn 1950 she became national executive director of the [Girl Scouts of the USA](https://bliptext.com/articles/girl-scouts-of-the-usa), a post she held until her retirement in 1960.\nShe served as a [United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations) representative of the [International Federation of University Women](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-federation-of-university-women) and chaired the women's committee of the President's Commission on Employment of the Handicapped.\n\n# Later years\nIn 1958 Stratton appeared as a guest challenger on the television show To Tell The Truth.\nShe was the last survivor of the original women's reserve directors who served during World War II.\nIn 1985 Stratton relocated from [Newtown, Connecticut](https://bliptext.com/articles/newtown-connecticut), to West Lafayette, Indiana, to share a home with [Helen B. Schleman](https://bliptext.com/articles/helen-b-schleman), the former assistant director of the SPARS and a colleague of Stratton's at Purdue University.\n\n# Death and legacy\nStratton died on September 17, 2006, in [West Lafayette, Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-lafayette-indiana), at the age of 107.\nIn 2004 [U.S. Representative](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-house-of-representatives) [Steve Buyer](https://bliptext.com/articles/steve-buyer) of [Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/indiana) publicly commended Stratton for her leadership and patriotism.\nAt the time of her death two years later, Purdue University president [Martin C. Jischke](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-c-jischke) noted that Stratton's roles as Dean of Women at Purdue, director of the SPARS during World War II, and her postwar career at the International Monetary Fund and as the national executive director for the Girl Scouts made her \"a trailblazer in helping to create opportunities for women.\"\nAs its first female officer Stratton was also a pioneer for women in the U.S. Coast Guard.\nThe Dorothy C. Stratton papers are housed at the Purdue University Library, Archives and Special Collections.\n\n# Honors and tributes\nStratton was awarded the [Legion of Merit](https://bliptext.com/articles/legion-of-merit) in 1946 for her contributions to women in the military.\nThe certificate for the citation commended Stratton as a \"brilliant organizer and administrator\" who had \"a keen understanding of the abilities of women and the tasks suited to their performance.\"\nThe U.S. Coast Guard's Women's Leadership Association named its \"Captain Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award\" in her honor.\nCreated in 2001, the award is \"presented to a female officer (W-2 to O-4)\" of the Coast Guard who demonstrates \"leadership and mentorship and who shares the Coast Guard's core values.\"\nThe Ottawa University Alumni Association awarded Stratton its Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005.\nShe was also the recipient of the University of Chicago's Alumni Association's Public Service Award.\nStratton was also awarded honorary degrees from Ottawa University, [Russell Sage College](https://bliptext.com/articles/russell-sage-college), Smith College, [Bates College](https://bliptext.com/articles/bates-college), and Purdue University.\nFollowing her death in 2006, the Dorothy C. Stratton NROTC Scholarship Fund was established at the Purdue University Foundation.\nIn 2008 the Coast Guard named its third [National Security Cutter](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-security-cutter) the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) in her honor.\nIt is the first National Security Cutter to be named after a woman.\nIn 2016 the [National Women's History Project](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-women-s-history-project) selected Stratton as one of its honorees for National Women's History Month for her public service and government leadership.\nStratton's work in organizing the SPARS during World War II was the subject of a short documentary film on [Vimeo](https://bliptext.com/articles/vimeo): \"Dorothy Stratton and the Spars: The Legend Continues.\"\nIn 2023, Purdue University's Veteran and Military Success Center was renamed in honor of Stratton's service to the university.\nStratton served as Purdue's Dean of Women from 1933 until 1942, when she was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.\n\n# Selected published works","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-26T06:52:22.721Z","updated_at":"2025-01-26T06:52:22.721Z","search_vector":"'c':2 'dorothi':1 'stratton':3","search_content":" \n \n**Name:** Dorothy Constance Stratton \n**Birth Date:** March 24, 1899 \n**Death Date:** September 17, 2006 \n**Birth Place:** [Brookfield, Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/brookfield-missouri), U.S. \n**Death Place:** [West Lafayette, Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-lafayette-indiana), U.S. \n**Allegiance:** United States \n**Branch:** [United States Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-coast-guard) \n**Serviceyears:** 1942–1946 \n**Rank:** [Captain](https://bliptext.com/articles/captain-united-states) \n**Commands:** [SPARS](https://bliptext.com/articles/spars) \n**Battles:** [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii) \n**Awards:** [Legion of Merit](https://bliptext.com/articles/legion-of-merit) (1946) \n**Laterwork:** Director of Personnel (1947–1950), [International Monetary Fund](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-monetary-fund); · Executive Director (1950–1960), [Girl Scouts of the USA](https://bliptext.com/articles/girl-scouts-of-the-usa) \n \n\n# \n**Dorothy Constance Stratton** (March 24, 1899 – September 17, 2006) is best known as the first director of the [SPARS](https://bliptext.com/articles/spars), the [U.S. Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-coast-guard) Women's Reserve.\nIn 1942, she became the first woman to be commissioned an officer in U.S. Coast Guard and is credited with giving its Women's Reserve program the name of SPARS, an acronym created from the Coast Guard motto, S emper P aratus, and its English translation, A lways R eady.\n[Lieutenant Commander](https://bliptext.com/articles/lieutenant-commander) Stratton attained the rank of [captain](https://bliptext.com/articles/captain) in February 1944 and served as director of the SPARS from 1942 until January 1946.\nShe was also a trailblazer for women in other areas.\nShe became [Purdue University](https://bliptext.com/articles/purdue-university)'s first full-time Dean of Women (1933–1942) and the first director of personnel at the [International Monetary Fund](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-monetary-fund) (1947–1950).\nStratton also served as the national executive director of the [Girl Scouts of the USA](https://bliptext.com/articles/girl-scouts-of-the-usa) (1950–1960).\nStratton was the recipient of awards for her public service and leadership that included a [Legion of Merit](https://bliptext.com/articles/legion-of-merit) for her contributions to women in the military, the [Ottawa University](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottawa-university) Alumni Association's Outstanding Achievement Award, and the [University of Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-chicago)'s Alumni Association's Public Service Award.\nShe was awarded honorary degrees from several American colleges and universities, such as Ottawa University, [Smith College](https://bliptext.com/articles/smith-college), and Purdue University, among others.\nStratton is the namesake of the Coast Guard's third [National Security Cutter](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-security-cutter), the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752), the first [National Security Cutter](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-security-cutter) to be named after a woman.\n\n# Early life and education\nDorothy Constance Stratton, the daughter of Reverend Richard L. Stratton and Anna (Troxler) Stratton, was born on March 24, 1899, in [Brookfield, Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/brookfield-missouri).\nStratton's father was a [Baptist](https://bliptext.com/articles/baptists) minister.\nHer brother, Richard C. Stratton, served as a [captain](https://bliptext.com/articles/captain) in the [U.S. Army](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-army)'s [Medical Reserve Corps](https://bliptext.com/articles/medical-reserve-corps) during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nStratton's family traveled across the [Midwest](https://bliptext.com/articles/midwestern-united-states) during her youth and she attended high schools in [Lamar, Missouri](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamar-missouri), and [Blue Rapids, Kansas](https://bliptext.com/articles/blue-rapids-kansas).\nShe earned a [Bachelor of Arts](https://bliptext.com/articles/bachelor-of-arts) degree from [Ottawa University](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottawa-university) in 1920, a [Master of Arts](https://bliptext.com/articles/master-of-arts) in psychology from the [University of Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-chicago), and a [doctorate](https://bliptext.com/articles/doctor-of-philosophy) (Ph.D.) in student personnel administration from [Columbia University](https://bliptext.com/articles/columbia-university).\nShe also studied at [Northwestern University](https://bliptext.com/articles/northwestern-university); the [University of Washington](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-washington); [University of California, Los Angeles](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-california-los-angeles) (UCLA); and [University of California, Berkeley](https://bliptext.com/articles/university-of-california-berkeley) (UC-Berkeley).\nWhile pursuing her advanced degrees, Stratton taught at school in Brookfield, Missouri; [Renton, Washington](https://bliptext.com/articles/renton-washington); and [San Bernardino, California](https://bliptext.com/articles/san-bernardino-california).\n\n# Career\n\n## Purdue University, Dean of Women\nIn 1933, after receiving her Ph.D. from Columbia, Stratton joined the staff at [Purdue University](https://bliptext.com/articles/purdue-university) in [West Lafayette, Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-lafayette-indiana), and became as its first full-time Dean of Women.\nShe was also an assistant professor of psychology at Purdue and became a full professor in 1940.\nDuring her nine years at Purdue, the university's enrollment of women increased from 500 to more than 1,400.\nA large part of the increase was attributed to her efforts to develop an experimental curriculum that attracted women who preferred to study subjects other than home economics.\nStratton created a liberal science curriculum for women in the university's School of Science, as well as a women's employment placement center.\nIn addition, she helped establish a specialized training program that provided intensive training for fraternity and sorority housemothers across the country.\nStratton also managed the construction of three new residence halls for women on Purdue's campus in West Lafayette.\n\n## Military service\nIn 1942 Stratton took a leave of absence from Purdue University and was commissioned as a [lieutenant](https://bliptext.com/articles/lieutenant) in the Women's Reserve of the [U.S. Naval Reserve](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-navy-reserve), which was also known as the [WAVES](https://bliptext.com/articles/waves) (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service).\nShe later credited [Lillian Moller Gilbreth](https://bliptext.com/articles/lillian-moller-gilbreth), professor of engineering at Purdue, for encouraging her to join the military, but she also recalled that she was willing \"to do whatever I could to serve my country\" and did not need much encouragement.\nStratton was among the members of the first class of the U.S. Naval Training Station at [Smith College](https://bliptext.com/articles/smith-college) in [Northampton, Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/northampton-massachusetts).\nAfter completing her initial training, she briefly served as Assistant to the Commanding Officer of the radio school for WAVES at [Madison, Wisconsin](https://bliptext.com/articles/madison-wisconsin).\nIn November 1942, after [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://bliptext.com/articles/franklin-d-roosevelt) signed an amendment to Public Law 773 to create a women's reserve for the [U.S. Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-coast-guard), Stratton became the first woman to be accepted into the new program.\nShe was immediately transferred from the [U.S. Navy](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-navy) to the U.S. Coast Guard and was sent to the office of the [Commandant of the Coast Guard](https://bliptext.com/articles/commandant-of-the-coast-guard) in [Washington, D.C.](https://bliptext.com/articles/washington-d-c) to organize the Coast Guard Women's Reserve.\nStratton was appointed the first director of the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, promoted to the rank of [lieutenant commander](https://bliptext.com/articles/lieutenant-commander), and became the first woman commissioned an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.\nShe rose through the ranks and in February 1944 was promoted to the rank of captain.\nStratton developed the Coast Guard Women's Reserve program and gave it the name of [SPARS](https://bliptext.com/articles/spars), an acronym created from the Coast Guard motto, S emper P aratus, and its English translation, A lways R eady.\nAs director of the SPARS, a position that Stratton held until 1946, her primary role was to originate policies for SPARS that related to procurement, training, utilization, and maintenance of its members' morale.\nShe oversaw significant growth in the program.\nMore than 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 commissioned officers served as SPARS in the remaining years of the war.\nStratton retired from the military in January 1946.\nStratton remained proud of the fact the U.S. Coast Guard used the highest percentage of women of any military branch of service during the war.\n# [SPARS Recruitment Poster | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/%22Join///the///Spars-Women%27s///Reserve///U.S.///Coast///Guard%22///-///NARA///-///515461.jpg]\n\n## Return to civilian life\nStratton remained active in the years following her military service.\nFrom 1947 to 1950, she worked for the [International Monetary Fund](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-monetary-fund) as its first director of personnel.\nIn 1950 she became national executive director of the [Girl Scouts of the USA](https://bliptext.com/articles/girl-scouts-of-the-usa), a post she held until her retirement in 1960.\nShe served as a [United Nations](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations) representative of the [International Federation of University Women](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-federation-of-university-women) and chaired the women's committee of the President's Commission on Employment of the Handicapped.\n\n# Later years\nIn 1958 Stratton appeared as a guest challenger on the television show To Tell The Truth.\nShe was the last survivor of the original women's reserve directors who served during World War II.\nIn 1985 Stratton relocated from [Newtown, Connecticut](https://bliptext.com/articles/newtown-connecticut), to West Lafayette, Indiana, to share a home with [Helen B. Schleman](https://bliptext.com/articles/helen-b-schleman), the former assistant director of the SPARS and a colleague of Stratton's at Purdue University.\n\n# Death and legacy\nStratton died on September 17, 2006, in [West Lafayette, Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-lafayette-indiana), at the age of 107.\nIn 2004 [U.S. Representative](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-house-of-representatives) [Steve Buyer](https://bliptext.com/articles/steve-buyer) of [Indiana](https://bliptext.com/articles/indiana) publicly commended Stratton for her leadership and patriotism.\nAt the time of her death two years later, Purdue University president [Martin C. Jischke](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-c-jischke) noted that Stratton's roles as Dean of Women at Purdue, director of the SPARS during World War II, and her postwar career at the International Monetary Fund and as the national executive director for the Girl Scouts made her \"a trailblazer in helping to create opportunities for women.\"\nAs its first female officer Stratton was also a pioneer for women in the U.S. Coast Guard.\nThe Dorothy C. Stratton papers are housed at the Purdue University Library, Archives and Special Collections.\n\n# Honors and tributes\nStratton was awarded the [Legion of Merit](https://bliptext.com/articles/legion-of-merit) in 1946 for her contributions to women in the military.\nThe certificate for the citation commended Stratton as a \"brilliant organizer and administrator\" who had \"a keen understanding of the abilities of women and the tasks suited to their performance.\"\nThe U.S. Coast Guard's Women's Leadership Association named its \"Captain Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award\" in her honor.\nCreated in 2001, the award is \"presented to a female officer (W-2 to O-4)\" of the Coast Guard who demonstrates \"leadership and mentorship and who shares the Coast Guard's core values.\"\nThe Ottawa University Alumni Association awarded Stratton its Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005.\nShe was also the recipient of the University of Chicago's Alumni Association's Public Service Award.\nStratton was also awarded honorary degrees from Ottawa University, [Russell Sage College](https://bliptext.com/articles/russell-sage-college), Smith College, [Bates College](https://bliptext.com/articles/bates-college), and Purdue University.\nFollowing her death in 2006, the Dorothy C. Stratton NROTC Scholarship Fund was established at the Purdue University Foundation.\nIn 2008 the Coast Guard named its third [National Security Cutter](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-security-cutter) the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) in her honor.\nIt is the first National Security Cutter to be named after a woman.\nIn 2016 the [National Women's History Project](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-women-s-history-project) selected Stratton as one of its honorees for National Women's History Month for her public service and government leadership.\nStratton's work in organizing the SPARS during World War II was the subject of a short documentary film on [Vimeo](https://bliptext.com/articles/vimeo): \"Dorothy Stratton and the Spars: The Legend Continues.\"\nIn 2023, Purdue University's Veteran and Military Success Center was renamed in honor of Stratton's service to the university.\nStratton served as Purdue's Dean of Women from 1933 until 1942, when she was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.\n\n# Selected published works","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}