Kate Murray Millett, Ph.D.

Katherine Murray Millett was born on September 14, 1934 in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents James Albert and Helen (Feely) Millett an had two sisters, Sally and Mallory. Millett graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1956 and earned a first-class honors degree in English literature from St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1958, becoming the first American woman to receive this distinction. She later pursued a doctorate in English and comparative literature at Columbia University, completing her dissertation in 1969 and earning her doctorate in 1970. She was a prominent feminist writer, educator, artist, and activist. Her seminal work "Sexual Politics" (1970) challenged patriarchal norms and contributed to the feminist movement. Millett's activism extended to various causes, including women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and peace movements, making her a significant figure in second-wave feminism. She also co-founded feminist organizations such as the National Organization for Women.