Lynn D. Gordon showed a passion for promoting the role of women in history, both in scholarly writings and in inspirational teaching at the University of Rochester.

Ms. Gordon, who died on Feb. 9 from cancer at the age of 65, played a key role in the early years of the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Studies at UR. After her book, Gender and Higher Education in the Progressive Era was published more than two decades ago, Ms. Gordon was named president of the History of Education Society. Acting on her interest in women trailblazers in history, Ms. Gordon started on a biography about Dorothy Thompson, who was a foreign correspondent and columnist from the 1920s to the 1950s. When Ms. Gordon died, she had nearly completed the biography. Her family and colleagues hope that they can finish and publish this work....