Margaret Thekla Cussler

MTC, sociologist, Radcliffe AM 1941, Ph.D 1943, joined the University of Maryland as an Instructor in 1947 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1962. In 1972, MTC filed suit against the University of Maryland for alleged sex discrimination on the grounds of inequitable treatment as to salary, promotion, teaching assignments and support for outside research. (For full chronology of MTC's grievances and background to the case, see folder #34). Although suit was filed in April, 1972, the trial was not ordered until November 1976. Numerous motions filed by the defendants, 1972-1976, delayed the case. Terms offered in November 1976 were not accepted by the plaintiff and the trial was ordered and jury empanelled in November 1976 and concluded in February 1977. After appeal, this seven-year unsuccessful sex discrimination case (the first to go to jury trial), was concluded in 1979. (For full chronology of the case, see folder #32.)