Bilger Hall
LEONORA NEUFFER BILGER
(1893-1975), was a noted chemist
and administrator at the University of
Hawaii. Her peers especially recognize
her contributions to the understanding
of nitrogen compounds. Bilger Hall is
named in honor of both Leonora and
her husband Earl, also a UH chemistry
professor.
Leonora grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio,
and graduated with a B.A., a M.A. and
in 1916, a Ph.D. from the University of
Cincinnati. She taught at Sweet Briar
University photo by Masao Miyamoto; University Archives
College, Virginia, and from 1918-1924 at
the University of Cincinnati. There she
established a reputation for her work in molecular structures and cancer chemotherapy. From 1924-1925
she was at Newnham College, Cambridge, England on a fellowship. During the courtship and early married
years of Leonora and Earl, the couple alternated between the University of Cincinnati and the University
of Hawaii before settling permanently in Hawaii, she as dean of women, he as chemistry professor. As dean
of women, Leonora was known as “Ma” to several generations of UH coeds. She is remembered for her
frequent lectures on lady-like proprieties.
She had a contentious relationship with UH president Crawford, and later, when she was removed as dean
of women and returned to the chemistry department, played an active role in forcing the resignation of
Crawford. This came about through the “special friendship” (in Crawford’s words) of Leonora and Board of
Regents member Samuel N. Castle, who lived with the Bilger couple in a large Manoa home. Leonora was
charged by Crawford as having passed along malicious information about Crawford to the Board. (When
Castle died in 1959 he left an estate valued at 3.5 million dollars to Leonora.)
She was chair of the chemistry department from 1943-1954. After that until her retirement in 1958 she was
largely occupied in planning a new chemistry building, overseeing every detail, from the gas, water, and air
Hawaiians would have interpreted them. After retirement she remained active in civic and academic affairs,
speaking out often on her support for nuclear energy and opposition to the fluoridation of public water
supplies. When Earl Bilger died in 1964, Leonora dedicated $25,000 in his memory to be used for the
remodeling of a biochemical laboratory.
* Goodman, Madeleine J. in Notable Women of Hawaii, ed. by Barbara Bennett Peterson, (University of
Hawaii Press, 1984) 33-37.