Anne Bosworth Focke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Bosworth Focke
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| Born | September 29, 1868 |
| Died | May 15, 1907 Cleveland, US
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Göttingen University of Chicago Wellesley College |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts |
| Doctoral advisor | David Hilbert |
Anne Lucy Bosworth Focke (born September 29, 1868 – died May 15, 1907) was an amazing American mathematician. She made history as the first math professor at what is now the University of Rhode Island. Later, she became the very first female student to earn a Ph.D. from the famous mathematician David Hilbert.
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Anne's Early Life
Anne Bosworth was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. When she was only four years old, a sad event happened: her father and younger sister passed away. Anne then grew up in a home filled with strong women. Her mother was a librarian, and her grandmother and aunt also lived with them.
School and First Job
Anne went to Woonsocket High School. She then studied at Wellesley College, graduating in 1890. At Wellesley, she studied alongside other future mathematicians.
After college, Anne worked as a teacher for two years at Amesbury High School in Massachusetts. In 1892, she got a big opportunity. She was hired as a math instructor at the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. This school later became the University of Rhode Island. Just one month later, she was promoted! She became a professor of both mathematics and physics. This was a huge achievement for a woman at that time.
Studying for Her Advanced Degrees
While teaching, Anne kept learning. She earned a master's degree from the University of Chicago. She did this by studying during the summers from 1894 to 1896.
In 1898, Anne decided to take a break from her teaching job. She traveled all the way to Germany to study at the University of Göttingen. There, she worked with the brilliant mathematician David Hilbert. She finished her Ph.D. in 1900. Her special project was about non-Euclidean geometry. This is a type of geometry that is different from the one you learn in school.
Anne was a pioneer! She was David Hilbert's first female doctoral student. Other women who later studied with him included Nadeschda Gernet and Vera Myller.
Later Life and Family
In 1901, Anne Bosworth married Theodore Moses Focke. He was an American engineer and mathematician whom she had met in Germany.
After getting married, Anne moved to Cleveland with her husband. She stopped her university work to focus on raising their three children. She did help her husband with grading papers sometimes. Sadly, Anne caught pneumonia in 1907 and passed away.
