Black MathematiciansBlack Mathematicians

By: By:

Alana AlexanderAlana Alexander

June 1, 2006June 1, 2006

Purpose for StudentsPurpose for Students

The purpose of this presentation is to The purpose of this presentation is to recognize the black mathematicians that recognize the black mathematicians that achieved great achievements in achieved great achievements in mathematics during a time when blacks mathematics during a time when blacks were looked at as inferior.were looked at as inferior.

Young black students as well as all Young black students as well as all students need to know that even tough students need to know that even tough mathematics is looked at as a tough mathematics is looked at as a tough subject it can be achieved with great subject it can be achieved with great perseverance.perseverance.

Purpose for Teachers Purpose for Teachers

The purpose of this presentation is to The purpose of this presentation is to make teachers aware of great black make teachers aware of great black mathematicians. mathematicians.

Teachers can use this information to help Teachers can use this information to help their students, especially minority their students, especially minority students relate to mathematics and find students relate to mathematics and find encouragement from those who encouragement from those who persevered in mathematics.persevered in mathematics.

IntroductionIntroduction

There were many successful black There were many successful black mathematicians who went through great mathematicians who went through great difficulty in trying to attain self-confidence difficulty in trying to attain self-confidence in mathematics.in mathematics.

Most of the people in this presentation are Most of the people in this presentation are professional people who have earned professional people who have earned degrees in mathematics and have taught degrees in mathematics and have taught mathematics to other mathematicians. mathematics to other mathematicians.

This is a remarkable achievement for This is a remarkable achievement for people who did not have all the rights and people who did not have all the rights and freedoms as other groups of people.freedoms as other groups of people.

IntroductionIntroduction

The history of blacks in mathematics dates The history of blacks in mathematics dates back to the 1700’s.back to the 1700’s.

The first recognized black mathematician The first recognized black mathematician recognized was a male.recognized was a male.

It was almost 200 years before women It was almost 200 years before women appeared in mathematics.appeared in mathematics.

Benjamin BannekerBenjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker was the first Black Benjamin Banneker was the first Black recognized as a mathematician. recognized as a mathematician.

He had little formal education.He had little formal education. He displayed great talent in mathematics.He displayed great talent in mathematics. He produced an almanac and was He produced an almanac and was

commissioned to survey Washington D.C..commissioned to survey Washington D.C..

Thomas FullerThomas Fuller

It has been said that he is the first It has been said that he is the first known mathematician. known mathematician.

Fuller was a slave shipped from Africa.Fuller was a slave shipped from Africa. Like Banneker, Fuller had no formal Like Banneker, Fuller had no formal

education.education. He possessed remarkable powers of He possessed remarkable powers of

calculations.calculations. He acquired these great mathematical He acquired these great mathematical

abilities from Africa.abilities from Africa.

Kelly MillerKelly Miller

The first Black mathematics graduate The first Black mathematics graduate student in 1887.student in 1887.

The first African American student The first African American student admitted to John Hopkins mathematics admitted to John Hopkins mathematics program. program.

He received a Master of Arts in He received a Master of Arts in Mathematics in 1901.Mathematics in 1901.

He continued his work in mathematics by He continued his work in mathematics by being a professor of mathematics and being a professor of mathematics and sociology. sociology.

Elbert F. CoxElbert F. Cox

He showed great abilities in mathematics He showed great abilities in mathematics and physics in high school. and physics in high school.

The first African American to earn a Ph.D. The first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1925 from Cornell in Mathematics in 1925 from Cornell University.University.

There were only 28 Ph.D.’s that were given There were only 28 Ph.D.’s that were given in 1925 all over the country. in 1925 all over the country.

Cox’ s achievement of a Ph. D. in Cox’ s achievement of a Ph. D. in mathematics was remarkable.mathematics was remarkable.

Dudley Weldon WoodardDudley Weldon Woodardandand

William Schieffelin ClaytorWilliam Schieffelin Claytor

Woodard (1928) and Claytor (1933) were Woodard (1928) and Claytor (1933) were the second and third black men to earn a the second and third black men to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics. Ph.D. in Mathematics.

Dr. Dudley WoodardDr. Dudley Woodard

Dr. Woodard established the M.S. degree Dr. Woodard established the M.S. degree program in mathematics at Howard program in mathematics at Howard University. University.

He helped to establish a mathematics He helped to establish a mathematics library at Howard University.library at Howard University.

Woodard taught many of the upcoming Woodard taught many of the upcoming black mathematicians to come.black mathematicians to come.

William ClaytorWilliam Claytor

William Waldron Schieffelin Claytor earned William Waldron Schieffelin Claytor earned his A.B. and M.A. from Howard University his A.B. and M.A. from Howard University under Woodard. under Woodard.

Dr. Claytor was the first African American Dr. Claytor was the first African American to publish mathematics research. to publish mathematics research.

African American Women of African American Women of MathematicsMathematics

It wasn’t until 1943 that a woman earned It wasn’t until 1943 that a woman earned a Ph.D. in mathematics.a Ph.D. in mathematics.

Euphemia Lofton HaynesEuphemia Lofton Haynes

She became the first African American She became the first African American Woman to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics.Woman to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics.

She taught in the public schools of She taught in the public schools of Washington, DC for forty-seven years.Washington, DC for forty-seven years.

She was the first woman to chair the DC She was the first woman to chair the DC School Board. School Board.

Dr. Haynes established the mathematics Dr. Haynes established the mathematics department at Miners Teacher's College. department at Miners Teacher's College.

African American Women (cont’d)African American Women (cont’d)

There were many women to follow in Dr. There were many women to follow in Dr. Hayes foot steps:Hayes foot steps:

Evelyn Boyd GranvilleEvelyn Boyd Granville Marjorie Lee BrowneMarjorie Lee Browne

Evelyn Boyd GranvilleEvelyn Boyd Granville

The second woman to earn a Ph.D. in The second woman to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics.Mathematics.

She earned her Ph.D. from Yale University She earned her Ph.D. from Yale University in 1949.in 1949.

Evelyn Granville first worked as a Evelyn Granville first worked as a mathematician with The National Bureau mathematician with The National Bureau of Standards and IBM.of Standards and IBM.

She became an Assistant Professor of She became an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at California State University. Mathematics at California State University.

She taught prospective elementary school She taught prospective elementary school teachers “new math”. teachers “new math”.

Marjorie Lee BrowneMarjorie Lee Browne

The third woman to receive a Ph.D. in The third woman to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics.mathematics.

This was just six months after Evelyn Boyd This was just six months after Evelyn Boyd Granville. Granville.

Marjorie Lee Browne received her B.S. in Marjorie Lee Browne received her B.S. in Mathematics from Howard Mathematics from Howard University(1935).University(1935).

She received her M.S. in Mathematics She received her M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1939.from the University of Michigan in 1939.

She received a Ph.D. in Mathematics from She received a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan (1950). the University of Michigan (1950).

Marjorie Lee Browne (cont’d)Marjorie Lee Browne (cont’d)

She authored four notes for She authored four notes for secondary school teachers: secondary school teachers:

Sets, Logic, and Mathematical Sets, Logic, and Mathematical Thought Thought (1957) (1957)

Introduction to Linear Algebra Introduction to Linear Algebra (1959) (1959) Elementary Matrix Algebra Elementary Matrix Algebra (1969) (1969) Algebraic Structures Algebraic Structures (1974) (1974)

ConclusionConclusion

There were many more African American There were many more African American Mathematicians. Mathematicians.

These were just the first few African These were just the first few African Americans who helped pave the way for Americans who helped pave the way for pursuing mathematics.pursuing mathematics.

ConclusionConclusion

As you can see, the people mentioned in As you can see, the people mentioned in this presentation helped to teach this presentation helped to teach mathematics to others.mathematics to others.

This was a great achievement to give back This was a great achievement to give back to others, the knowledge that they gained to others, the knowledge that they gained from mathematics.from mathematics.

ConclusionConclusion

Mathematics was and still is a very difficult Mathematics was and still is a very difficult subject. subject.

Many people shy away from mathematics.Many people shy away from mathematics. This is why teachers have to get students This is why teachers have to get students

interested in mathematics.interested in mathematics. This presentation is just a start to inform This presentation is just a start to inform

students of great mathematcians who students of great mathematcians who went against the odds of achieving in went against the odds of achieving in mathematicsmathematics..

ResourcesResources

To find out more about great African American To find out more about great African American Mathematicians, check out these websites and Mathematicians, check out these websites and books:books:

http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/madhist.htmlhttp://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/madhist.html Newell, Virginia K. Newell, Virginia K. Black mathematicians and Black mathematicians and

their works (1980) their works (1980) http://womenshistory.about.com/od/sciencemath1http://womenshistory.about.com/od/sciencemath1

// http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/02/2.28.02http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/02/2.28.02

/ElbertCox.html/ElbertCox.html http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/

aframer/math.htmlaframer/math.html