Women in the American mathematical community: The pre-1940 Ph. D.'s (Q1083441)

This is a study of all 229 American women Ph. D.'s in mathematics prior to 1940. Brief accounts are given to the first successful inquirer on formal graduate work, C. Ladd, (1878), the first Ph. D. of Columbia, W. Edgerton (1886) and women connection with Göttingen (1880s). From 1900 to 1940, women Ph. D.'s doubled each decade with a total of 219. This rate was slightly faster than that for men and contrasted greatly with the decline of 1950s and 60s. Most women were professionally active with recognized competence and usefulness, particularly M. S. Rees and D. L. Bernstein. One sees a certain clustering around certain advisors. After receiving degrees, most served as undergraduate teachers. Few were hired by research departments. But most importantly, this study shows that there were once many women mathematics professors.