MacTutor
19th C American Mathematical Society women
There were 23 women who became members of the American Mathematical Society (some of whom joined while it was still the New York Mathematical Society). We list these 23 below and give links to where further information can be found in our Archive. The link to the Association for Women in Mathematics Biography is to the 3-part article "Women in the American Mathematical Society before 1900", by Betsey S Whitman which appeared in the Association for Women in Mathematics Newsletter 13 (4) (1983), 10-14; AWM Newsletter 13 (5) (1983), 7-9; and AWM Newsletter 13 (6) (1983), 9-12.
The New York Mathematical Society was founded on 24 November 1888 at a meeting attended by only six people and a year later it was still very small with only eleven members. All these eleven were men but Charlotte Angas Scott began attending meetings of the Society soon after it was founded but could not join as membership was only open to those from New York. She was the first of seven women to join the Society in the year 1891. In that year membership was opened to all. In 1894 the Society changed its name to the American Mathematical Society.
1891
1. Charlotte Angas Scott.
Date of Birth: 8 June 1858.
Place of Birth: Lincoln, England.
Date of Death: 10 November 1931.
Place of Death: Cambridge, England.
Father: Rev Caleb Scott (1831-1919).
Mother: Eliza Ann Exley (1837-1899).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
2. Achsah Mount Ely.
Place of Birth: Lincoln, England.
Date of Death: 10 November 1931.
Place of Death: Cambridge, England.
Father: Rev Caleb Scott (1831-1919).
Mother: Eliza Ann Exley (1837-1899).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 10 November 1846.
Place of Birth: Millhurst, New Jersey, USA.
Date of Death: 13 December 1904.
Place of Death: Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
Father: Joseph J Ely (1814-1885).
Mother: Catherine Conover (1815-1901).
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
3. Ellen Amanda Hayes.
Place of Birth: Millhurst, New Jersey, USA.
Date of Death: 13 December 1904.
Place of Death: Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
Father: Joseph J Ely (1814-1885).
Mother: Catherine Conover (1815-1901).
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 23 September 1851.
Place of Birth: Granville, Ohio, USA.
Date of Death: 27 October 1930.
Place of Death: Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Charles Coleman Hayes (1825-1914).
Mother: Ruth Rebecca Wolcott (1930-1916).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
4. Mary Emma Byrd.
Place of Birth: Granville, Ohio, USA.
Date of Death: 27 October 1930.
Place of Death: Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Charles Coleman Hayes (1825-1914).
Mother: Ruth Rebecca Wolcott (1930-1916).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 15 November 1849.
Place of Birth: Le Roy, Michigan, USA.
Date of Death: 13 July 1934.
Place of Death: Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Father: John Huntington Byrd (1816-1897).
Mother: Elizabeth Adelaide Lowe (1821-1912).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
5. Susan Jane Cunningham.
Place of Birth: Le Roy, Michigan, USA.
Date of Death: 13 July 1934.
Place of Death: Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Father: John Huntington Byrd (1816-1897).
Mother: Elizabeth Adelaide Lowe (1821-1912).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 23 March 1842.
Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Date of Death: 24 January 1921.
Place of Death: Swarthmore, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA.
Father: Edward Lloyd Cunningham.
Mother: Elizabeth H Hollingsworth.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
6. Mary Watson Whitney.
Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Date of Death: 24 January 1921.
Place of Death: Swarthmore, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA.
Father: Edward Lloyd Cunningham.
Mother: Elizabeth H Hollingsworth.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 11 September 1847.
Place of Birth: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Date of Death: 20 January 1921.
Place of Death: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Samuel Butterick Whitney (1814-1862).
Mother: Mary Watson Crehore (1823-1893).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
7. Amy Rayson.
Place of Birth: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Date of Death: 20 January 1921.
Place of Death: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Samuel Butterick Whitney (1814-1862).
Mother: Mary Watson Crehore (1823-1893).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 26 January 1861.
Place of Birth: Wellingborough, Northampton, England.
Date of Death: 27 December 1946.
Place of Death: Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England.
Father: Thomas Rayson (1838-1927).
Mother: Emily Phillips (1840-1918).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
1892
Place of Birth: Wellingborough, Northampton, England.
Date of Death: 27 December 1946.
Place of Death: Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England.
Father: Thomas Rayson (1838-1927).
Mother: Emily Phillips (1840-1918).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
8. Ella Cornelia Williams.
Date of Birth: 11 January 1854.
Place of Birth: Montour Falls, Schuyler, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 11 November 1935.
Place of Death: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA.
Father: Solomon H Williams (1824-1880).
Mother: Charity Maria Brink (1829-1917).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
1893
Place of Birth: Montour Falls, Schuyler, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 11 November 1935.
Place of Death: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA.
Father: Solomon H Williams (1824-1880).
Mother: Charity Maria Brink (1829-1917).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
9. Ida Griffiths.
Date of Birth: June 1859.
Place of Birth: Dutchess, Poughkeepie, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 21 August 1922.
Place of Death: Poughkeepie, New York, USA.
Father: John Griffiths (1804-1887).
Mother: Eliza Hand (1824-1914).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
1894
Place of Birth: Dutchess, Poughkeepie, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 21 August 1922.
Place of Death: Poughkeepie, New York, USA.
Father: John Griffiths (1804-1887).
Mother: Eliza Hand (1824-1914).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
10. Charlotte Cynthia Barnum.
Date of Birth: 17 May 1860.
Place of Birth: Phillipston, Massachusetts, USA.
Date of Death: 27 March 1934.
Place of Death: Middletown, Connecticut, USA.
Father: Reverend Samuel Weed Barnum (1820-1891).
Mother: Charlotte Betts (1823-1899).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
11. Ruth Gentry.
Place of Birth: Phillipston, Massachusetts, USA.
Date of Death: 27 March 1934.
Place of Death: Middletown, Connecticut, USA.
Father: Reverend Samuel Weed Barnum (1820-1891).
Mother: Charlotte Betts (1823-1899).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 22 February 1862.
Place of Birth: Stilesville, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA.
Date of Death: 18 October 1917.
Place of Death: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Father: Jeremiah Gentry (1827-1906).
Mother: Lucretia Wilcox (1830-1909).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
12. Frances Hardcastle.
Place of Birth: Stilesville, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA.
Date of Death: 18 October 1917.
Place of Death: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Father: Jeremiah Gentry (1827-1906).
Mother: Lucretia Wilcox (1830-1909).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 13 August 1866.
Place of Birth: Writtle, Essex, England.
Date of Death: 26 December 1941.
Place of Death: Cambridge, England.
Father: Henry Hardcastle (1840-1922).
Mother: Maria Sophie Herschel (1839-1922).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
13. Fanny Rysam Mulford Hitchcock.
Place of Birth: Writtle, Essex, England.
Date of Death: 26 December 1941.
Place of Death: Cambridge, England.
Father: Henry Hardcastle (1840-1922).
Mother: Maria Sophie Herschel (1839-1922).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 7 February 1851.
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 25 September 1936.
Place of Death: Warwick, New York, USA.
Father: Julius Sleight Hitchcock (1823-1888).
Mother: Elizabeth U Howell (1828-1916).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
1895
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 25 September 1936.
Place of Death: Warwick, New York, USA.
Father: Julius Sleight Hitchcock (1823-1888).
Mother: Elizabeth U Howell (1828-1916).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
14. Sarah Antoinette Acer.
Date of Birth: 7 June 1861.
Place of Birth: Shelby, Orleans, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 16 December 1913.
Place of Death: Urbana, Illinois, USA.
Father: Volney A Acer (1818-1904).
Mother: Charlotte Clark Peck (1828-1893).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
1896
Place of Birth: Shelby, Orleans, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 16 December 1913.
Place of Death: Urbana, Illinois, USA.
Father: Volney A Acer (1818-1904).
Mother: Charlotte Clark Peck (1828-1893).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
15. Estella Kate Wentz.
Date of Birth: 8 April 1866.
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Hamilton, Indiana, USA.
Date of Death: 6 August 1938.
Place of Death: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Father: William Wirt Wentz (1833-1902).
Mother: Emeline Howell (1838-1920).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
1897
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Hamilton, Indiana, USA.
Date of Death: 6 August 1938.
Place of Death: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Father: William Wirt Wentz (1833-1902).
Mother: Emeline Howell (1838-1920).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
16. Annie Louise MacKinnon Fitch.
Date of Birth: 1 June 1868.
Place of Birth: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada.
Date of Death: 12 September 1940.
Place of Death: Kirkland, Oneida County, New York, USA.
Father: Malcolm MacKinnon (1838-1903).
Mother: Annie Louise Gilbert (1842-1919).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
17. Ada Isabel Maddison.
Place of Birth: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada.
Date of Death: 12 September 1940.
Place of Death: Kirkland, Oneida County, New York, USA.
Father: Malcolm MacKinnon (1838-1903).
Mother: Annie Louise Gilbert (1842-1919).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 13 April 1869.
Place of Birth: Cumberland, England.
Date of Death: 22 October 1950.
Place of Death: Martin's Dam, Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA.
Father: John Maddison.
Mother: Mary Anderson.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
18. Anna Helene Palmie.
Place of Birth: Cumberland, England.
Date of Death: 22 October 1950.
Place of Death: Martin's Dam, Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA.
Father: John Maddison.
Mother: Mary Anderson.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 21 May 1863.
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 12 June 1946.
Place of Death: Ormond, Volusia County, Florida, USA.
Father: Edward Daniel Palmie (1828-1895).
Mother: Theresa C Thiel (1839-1912).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
19. Mary Underhill.
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Date of Death: 12 June 1946.
Place of Death: Ormond, Volusia County, Florida, USA.
Father: Edward Daniel Palmie (1828-1895).
Mother: Theresa C Thiel (1839-1912).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 1877.
Place of Birth: Glen Head, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA.
Date of Death: July 1958.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
20. Mary Frances Winston Newson.
Place of Birth: Glen Head, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA.
Date of Death: July 1958.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 7 August 1869.
Place of Birth: Forreston, Illinois, USA.
Date of Death: 5 December 1959.
Place of Death: Poolesville, Maryland, USA.
Father: Thomas Winfield Winston (1829-1928).
Mother: Caroline Eliza Mumford (1836-1909).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
1898
Place of Birth: Forreston, Illinois, USA.
Date of Death: 5 December 1959.
Place of Death: Poolesville, Maryland, USA.
Father: Thomas Winfield Winston (1829-1928).
Mother: Caroline Eliza Mumford (1836-1909).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
None
1899
21. Carrie Hammerslough.
Date of Birth: 18 December 1875.
Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Date of Death: 1 August 1948.
Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
Father: Isadore Hammerslough (1843-1918).
Mother: Rosa Bamberger (1853-1877).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
22. Emilie Norton Martin.
Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Date of Death: 1 August 1948.
Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
Father: Isadore Hammerslough (1843-1918).
Mother: Rosa Bamberger (1853-1877).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 30 December 1869.
Place of Birth: Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.
Date of Death: 8 February 1936.
Place of Death: South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Robert Wilkie Martin (1841-1907).
Mother: Mary Holmes Ford.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
23. Ruth Goulding Wood
Place of Birth: Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.
Date of Death: 8 February 1936.
Place of Death: South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Robert Wilkie Martin (1841-1907).
Mother: Mary Holmes Ford.
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
MacTutor Biography at THIS LINK.
Date of Birth: 29 January 1875.
Place of Birth: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA.
Date of Death: 5 May 1939.
Place of Death: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Samuel Eugene Wood (1843-1891).
Mother: Kate Bassett Pond (1850-1932).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
Place of Birth: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA.
Date of Death: 5 May 1939.
Place of Death: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
Father: Samuel Eugene Wood (1843-1891).
Mother: Kate Bassett Pond (1850-1932).
Association for Women in Mathematics Biography at THIS LINK.
Written by J J O'Connor and E F Robertson
Last Update June 2023
Last Update June 2023