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Charlotte Angas Scott
Times obituary
The death on November 8 of Miss Charlotte Angas Scott, of Girton College, Cambridge, D.Sc., London, recalls an important date in the history of women's education at Cambridge. Miss Scott, born in 1858, was the daughter of the Rev. Caleb Scott, Principal of the Lancashire Independent College, Whalley Range, and later the successor to Dr. Joseph Parker at the City Temple. She entered Girton College in 1876 and, after duly passing the previous examination, was placed eighth among the Wranglers by the examiners for the Mathematical Tripos in January 1880. On those days, the examiners were informally asked each year by the college authorities to examine its students. On this occasion, the first time that a woman had reached the coveted position of a Wrangler, shouts of "Scott of Girton" drowned the name of the official eighth Wrangler when the lists were read in the Senate House Newnham College was also known to have obtained a first in Moral Science and only two firsts in History, so that the Cambridge Review was moved to say that the great feature of the triposes had been the success of the women candidates. The prestige of high wranglership caught the public attention, and a mensorial, promoted not by the women's colleges but by the public, headed by Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Aldis of Newcastle-on-Tyne, was presented to the Senate of the University, praying for the formal admission of women to examinations and degrees, with the result that the following year the tripos examinations were opened to students of Girton and Newnham Colleges, duly qualified by residence and preliminary examinations. The further step, however, of admission to membership of the University and to degrees was not granted.
After a few years of work as resident lecturer in mathematics at Girton College, Miss Scott went to the United States as Associate Professor, at first, and subsequently Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College. She remained there until 1925, when she retired and went to live in Cambridge. Her mathematical ability and her personality were held in high esteem. She published mathematical papers in American, British, and Continental journals and frequently reported on the affection she inspired in her American colleagues and pupils. Increasing deafness prevented her from taking much part in Cambridge life, but those who came into contact with her well knew the qualities of character and intellect with which she was gifted.
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A correspondent writes:
You have printed an account of Miss Charlotte Angas Scott, of Girton College, Cambridge, from an academic point of view; may a junior member of her family write a few words from a different point of view?
"Aunt Charlie," as she was known to her nephews and nieces, was always accessible and only too pleased to chat with us on matters great and small. She had a tremendous sense of humour, and a twinkle was never far from her eyes. Recently, on telling her of our decision to take a small flat while on leave, despite the kind offers to put us up, she remarked, "I always say I would rather mismanage my own house than be well managed in someone else's!" She was a clever and witty speaker and would often say she loved words; indeed, she was never at a loss for words out of the common, and increasing deadness made her find talking easier than listening. She outlived most of her family of the same generation, but with admirable courage, after 30 years in America, settled down in Cambridge for the few years left to her. She came of the same clan as the immortal Sir Walter, and her death leaves a gap that is difficult to fill.
The death on November 8 of Miss Charlotte Angas Scott, of Girton College, Cambridge, D.Sc., London, recalls an important date in the history of women's education at Cambridge. Miss Scott, born in 1858, was the daughter of the Rev. Caleb Scott, Principal of the Lancashire Independent College, Whalley Range, and later the successor to Dr. Joseph Parker at the City Temple. She entered Girton College in 1876 and, after duly passing the previous examination, was placed eighth among the Wranglers by the examiners for the Mathematical Tripos in January 1880. On those days, the examiners were informally asked each year by the college authorities to examine its students. On this occasion, the first time that a woman had reached the coveted position of a Wrangler, shouts of "Scott of Girton" drowned the name of the official eighth Wrangler when the lists were read in the Senate House Newnham College was also known to have obtained a first in Moral Science and only two firsts in History, so that the Cambridge Review was moved to say that the great feature of the triposes had been the success of the women candidates. The prestige of high wranglership caught the public attention, and a mensorial, promoted not by the women's colleges but by the public, headed by Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Aldis of Newcastle-on-Tyne, was presented to the Senate of the University, praying for the formal admission of women to examinations and degrees, with the result that the following year the tripos examinations were opened to students of Girton and Newnham Colleges, duly qualified by residence and preliminary examinations. The further step, however, of admission to membership of the University and to degrees was not granted.
After a few years of work as resident lecturer in mathematics at Girton College, Miss Scott went to the United States as Associate Professor, at first, and subsequently Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College. She remained there until 1925, when she retired and went to live in Cambridge. Her mathematical ability and her personality were held in high esteem. She published mathematical papers in American, British, and Continental journals and frequently reported on the affection she inspired in her American colleagues and pupils. Increasing deafness prevented her from taking much part in Cambridge life, but those who came into contact with her well knew the qualities of character and intellect with which she was gifted.
________________________________________________
A correspondent writes:
You have printed an account of Miss Charlotte Angas Scott, of Girton College, Cambridge, from an academic point of view; may a junior member of her family write a few words from a different point of view?
"Aunt Charlie," as she was known to her nephews and nieces, was always accessible and only too pleased to chat with us on matters great and small. She had a tremendous sense of humour, and a twinkle was never far from her eyes. Recently, on telling her of our decision to take a small flat while on leave, despite the kind offers to put us up, she remarked, "I always say I would rather mismanage my own house than be well managed in someone else's!" She was a clever and witty speaker and would often say she loved words; indeed, she was never at a loss for words out of the common, and increasing deadness made her find talking easier than listening. She outlived most of her family of the same generation, but with admirable courage, after 30 years in America, settled down in Cambridge for the few years left to her. She came of the same clan as the immortal Sir Walter, and her death leaves a gap that is difficult to fill.
