Marie-Louise Delwaulle was born in the Tarn region of France, but came from a family with roots in the Nord department. She studied at theLille Faculty of Science, graduating in 1929 with a Bachelor of Science degree. That same year, Professor Henri Pélabon offered her a position as an ‘assistante’ (junior member of the faculty’s teaching staff) in general chemistry in his laboratory.
In 1934, she defended a thesis on mercuric iodides. Much in demand during the Second World War, as some of her professors had been sent to the front, she became the first woman at the Faculty to be appointed ‘maître de conférences’ (senior lecturer) in 1947, then Professor in 1952, before being awarded the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry in 1957. She divided her time between teaching, research and managing the Chemistry Department.
Highly appreciated by her colleagues for her remarkable work ethic and great human qualities, she was entirely dedicated to the Lille Faculty of Science, where she spent her entire career.
Notes written by Marie Lefèvre.
This short profile was written as part of the first edition of the Université avec un grand Elles (Women Who Shaped the University) exhibition held in 2019.