Barbara Washburn

Barbara Washburn was born in 1914. A graduate of Smith College, she married mountaineer-explorer-mapmaker Bradford Washburn in 1940. Six years later, climbing with her husband, she became the first woman to reach the summit of 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, North America's highest peak. The mother of three, she also became one of the nation's earliest remedial reading teachers, and received awards in several fields of endeavor.

Barbara Washburn was born in 1914. A graduate of Smith College, she married mountaineer-explorer-mapmaker Bradford Washburn in 1940. Six years later, climbing with her husband, she became the first woman to reach the summit of 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, North America's highest peak. The mother of three, she also became one of the nation's earliest remedial reading teachers, and received awards in several fields of endeavor. See less