History of Iowa State: People of Distinction

Sponsored by the University Archives, Iowa State University Library

Copyright 2006

Margaret Wragg Sloss

Margaret Wragg Sloss was born October 28, 1901, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  In 1910, she moved with her family to Ames, Iowa, where her father, Thomas Sloss, was hired as the superintendent of buildings, grounds, and construction at Iowa State College (University).  Dr. Sloss attributed her experiences in growing up on the Iowa State campus to fostering her interest in science and especially veterinary medicine.  Margaret Sloss received her B.S (1923), M.S. (1932) and D.V.M (1938) from Iowa State.  Dr. Sloss was the first woman to graduate with a D.V.M. from Iowa State.

Margaret Sloss began her career as a Technician in Veterinary Pathology at Iowa State (1923-1929), and was promoted to Assistant (1930-1941), Instructor (1941-1943), Assistant Professor (1943-1957), Associate Professor (1958-1964), Professor (1965-1972), and Professor Emeritus (1972).

She was the author of numerous publications and papers, including "Women in the Veterinary Profession" and "Biography of Charles Henry Stange."  Dr. Sloss also co-authored Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, with Dr. Edward A. Benbrook (1948).  Sloss later rewrote the fourth edition of the book (1970).

Dr. Sloss was active in several professional associations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Delta Epsilon and Phi Zeta.  She also helped establish the Women's Veterinary Medical Association (1947) and was elected president (1950-1952).

Margaret Sloss was honored by the Women's Centennial Congress as one of the 100 women in the United States to successfully follow careers in 1940, which were unheard of 100 years before that date.  During her time at Iowa State, Dr. Sloss received many awards and citations for her service, including the Iowa State Faculty Citation (1959) and the Stange Award for Meritorious Service (1974).  To further recognize Dr. Sloss and her achievements, Iowa State University named the Margaret Sloss Women's Center in her honor in 1981.

Dr. Sloss passed away December 11, 1979.  She is interred in the Iowa State University Cemetery.

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