Agnes Sime Baxter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Sime Baxter
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| Born | March 18, 1870 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Died | March 9, 1917 (aged 46) Columbia, Missouri, United States
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Dalhousie University Cornell University |
Agnes Sime Baxter (March 18, 1870 – March 9, 1917) was a very smart Canadian mathematician. She was one of the first women in North America to earn a high degree in mathematics. Agnes studied at Dalhousie University in Canada. She also studied at Cornell University in the United States. She made important contributions to the world of math.
Contents
Biography
Agnes Sime Baxter was born on March 18, 1870. Her hometown was Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her family had moved to Canada from Scotland. Her father, Robert Baxter, managed a gas company in Halifax.
Early Education and Achievements
Agnes started studying at Dalhousie University in 1887. She focused on mathematics and mathematical physics. Even though not many women studied these subjects then, Agnes did very well. She earned her first degree, a bachelor's degree, in 1891. She was the first woman at Dalhousie University to get an honours degree. This means she achieved very high grades. She also won several awards when she graduated. One award was for having the highest grades in math and physics. She then completed her master's degree at Dalhousie in 1892.
Advanced Studies and Ph.D.
From 1892 to 1894, Agnes received a special scholarship. This scholarship, called a fellow, allowed her to study at Cornell University. Cornell is located in New York. She worked on her special research paper there. This paper was about "Abelian integrals."
In 1895, she earned her Ph.D. in mathematics. This is the highest degree you can get. Agnes was the second Canadian woman to achieve this. She was also the fourth woman in North America to get a Ph.D. in math. Her professor, James Edward Oliver, had many math notes. Agnes helped to organize and publish these notes in 1894.
Family Life and Legacy
Agnes Baxter married Dr. Albert Ross Hill on August 20, 1896. They had two daughters together. Agnes chose not to teach at the same schools where her husband was a professor. However, her husband said she helped him a lot with his work.
Agnes Ross Hill passed away on March 9, 1917. She died in Columbia, Missouri, after being sick for a long time. She was buried in the Columbia Cemetery. After her death, her husband wanted to honor her memory. He gave $1000 to Dalhousie University. This money was used to buy many books for the university. The university also created the Agnes Baxter Reading Room. This special room is in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computing Sciences. It helps students learn and remember Agnes's important contributions.
