Gerda Prevost McCahan

1
Gerda Prevost McCahan

• 1920-1992

2
Wall of Fame

• First GHS woman to earn a PhD
• Set up psychological evaluation program for
  veterans at Furman
• Diplomate in clinical psychology of American
  Board of Professional Psychology

3
Psychology Accomplishments

• Clinical Psychologist Medical University of SC
  (Charleston)
• Chief Psychologist Childrens Psychiatric
  Center (Amarillo, TX)
• Senior Clinical Psychologist Kennedy Child
  Center (New York)

4
Cont.

• Consulting Psychologist at Marshall Pickens
  Hospital at Greenville Memorial Hospital
• Research psychologist at USAF base in West
  Germany
• Chairman of the Psychology Department, Chairman
  of the Faculty and Director of the Child and
  Family Studies Institute.

5
Awards and Honors

• Won the Meritorious Teaching Award, the highest
  honor bestowed upon Furman faculty members
• Only clinical applied psychologist in Greenville
  in the 1940s
• Directorate of Management Analysis in Wiesbaden,
  Germany

6
Giving Back

• Distinguished professor at Furman University
• Endowed the Marshall Prevost Psychology Medal in
  1961 to outstanding Furman student in Psychology
• Taught psychology at University of Maryland
  overseas

7
Education

• Graduated from Greenville High in 1937
• Graduated from Furman with a BA in 1941
• Earned her Masters and PhD at Columbia University

8
Personal Information

• Nicknamed Gerda Jr. after her mother
• Was 63 tall
• Married George McCahan (1949), with whom she had
  four children
• Lived in Germany, then New York City
• Diagnosed in 1988 with breast cancer, and passed
  away in 1992.

Gerdas mother, Gerda Luyties Prevost
(1879-1971)
9
Prevost Family Tree
Joseph Prevost
Frances Taylor
John Blair Prevost
Mary Marshall Orr
Marshall Blair Prevost
Gerda Luyties
Herman Christie Clare Prevost
Gerhardt Luyties Prevost
Marshall Laurens Prevost
Gerda Prevost McCahan
Tournay Prevost
Gary Lamberson
Elena Lamberson
10
Interview with
Elena Lamberson, Gerdas
niece
Click here to hear interview.
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Interview Responses

• What was your aunts greatest accomplishment?
• Her teaching ability and her enormous
  communication skills and ability to inspire
  others.
• How do you think she made an impact to GHS and/or
  Furman University?
• She set a standard of excellence for her and
  other women. She became the first women to be
  chairman of the faculty at Furman. She pursued
  areas that previously only men had achieved in
  her field. Being a big woman never slowed Gerda
  down. She always stood tall and proud despite her
  height.

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Interview Responses

• What kind of woman do you think your aunt was and
  how would you describe her?
• Gerda was of course very tall and it was the
  first thing anyone could notice about her. She
  was 63, soft-spoken and very friendly. She
  loved humor she could see the humor in
  everything. She was a fun person to talk to and
  she had a lot to say about everything. Very
  optimistic, positive thinker. Inquisitive,
  interesting person. Good listener, never
  interrupted. She could related information to you
  that was interesting. She always wanted to know
  more about everything. And as I was growing I
  would always love to find interesting things to
  tell her about. When I was studying Microbiology,
  which she knew nothing about, she was fascinated
  by the information I gave her. When I look back
  now I think she would be so fascinated by the
  internet.

13
Interview Responses

• How do you think she influenced you and other
  people?
• Gerda made me want to do my best in everything I
  did and seek knowledge in all areas. And to this
  day, I Google everything I want to know about,
  and I try to learn something new. She always used
  to say, knowledge is something that can never be
  taken away from you. This is extremely
  important, for young people in particular.

14
Sources

• Greenville High School Wall of Fame.
• Lamberson, Elena. Telephone Interview, May 20,
  2008.
• Lamberson, Elena. "Prevost History." May 13,
  2008. http//www.prevostapartments.com/HISTORY.htm

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Authors

• Aileen- contacted Elena, worked on PowerPoint
  presentation

• Emily- took picture of Wall of Fame, worked on
  PowerPoint presentation