Adelaide Smith facts for kids

Adelaide Smith (born in 1870 in Boone, Iowa) was a brilliant American mathematician. She studied with a famous mathematician named David Hilbert in Germany. Later, she traveled all the way to South Africa. There, she taught at a college for women. It was the only one of its kind south of the equator! Adelaide also wrote two books about her experiences. Her job as a math teacher at the University of California, Berkeley was even reported across the country. In her later years, she became the principal of a girls' school. It was the second oldest school for girls in California.

Growing Up and Learning

Adelaide Smith was born in 1870 in Boone, Iowa. Her parents were Allan and Adelaide Nancy Butler Smith. Her family later moved to Chicago. In Chicago, she went to the Kirkland School. Adelaide was not only a great student, but also a very talented piano player.

She graduated from Wellesley College in 1893. She finished a five-year music program in just four years! After college, she went back to Boone. There, she worked as a high school teacher.

After teaching for a year, Adelaide studied math. She spent a summer at the University of Chicago. In 1894, she became a science teacher. This was at the National Park Seminary in Maryland. She also kept studying math through Columbian University. This school is now part of George Washington University. By 1897, Smith was teaching modern languages. She taught at Alma College in Michigan. In 1899, she was listed as a math professor. This was at the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

Adventures Around the World

In 1899, Adelaide Smith traveled to Germany. She went to the University of Göttingen. She received money from the Women's Education Association. She also got a special fellowship for college graduates. She studied advanced mathematics there.

Adelaide stayed in Göttingen for two and a half years. Then, she moved to South Africa. She went to teach at Huguenot College. At that time, it was the only college for women south of the equator. While teaching advanced math there, she earned another bachelor's degree. This was in 1905 from the University of the Cape of Good Hope.

She wrote two books about her travels. She wrote them with another American traveler, Jennie R. White. The books were South Africa Today (1907) and A Little Journey to South Africa and Up the East Coast (1908). Both books were published by A. Flanagan Co.

Life in California

Adelaide Smith returned to the United States. In 1908, she taught at San Rafael High School in California. In 1909, she became a math instructor. This was at the University of California, Berkeley. This news was so important it was reported all over the country!

In 1910, she played piano in a concert. It featured opera music by Richard Wagner. The concert was held at the Hearst Greek Theatre. She earned her master's degree from the university in 1911. Her master's paper was about a differential equation. This idea came from David Hilbert when she was in Germany. She also became a math professor at Mills College.

In 1913, she became the head of the Snell Seminary in Berkeley. She took over after the previous head passed away. Adelaide renamed the school the Wellesley School for Girls.

Later in life, in 1934, she broke her hip. She was described as "bedridden." But she was still a "well-known Berkeley educator." She gave college preparation lessons to people who were unemployed. This was through a program called the Civil Works Service. She continued to be the principal of the Wellesley School. It was called "the second oldest private school in the state." She was still listed as principal as late as 1950.