Charlotte Barnum facts for kids

Charlotte Cynthia Barnum (born May 17, 1860 – died March 27, 1934) was an amazing American mathematician. She was also a social activist, meaning she worked to make society better. Charlotte made history as the first woman to earn a Ph.D. degree in mathematics from Yale University.

Early Life and Learning

Charlotte Barnum was born in Phillipston, Massachusetts. She was the third of four children. Her parents were Reverend Samuel Weed Barnum and Charlotte Betts. Education was very important in her family. Two of her uncles became doctors after studying at Yale. Her father also graduated from Yale. Her brothers, Samuel and Thomas, would later graduate from Yale too. Her sister, Clara, even went to Yale for graduate school.

Charlotte went to Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut. After that, she attended Vassar College and graduated in 1881. From 1881 to 1886, she taught at a boys' school called Betts Academy. She also taught at Hillhouse High School. During this time, she helped with calculations at the Yale Observatory. She also worked on updating a book about minerals. From 1886 to 1890, Charlotte wrote for Webster's International Dictionary. Then, she taught astronomy at Smith College for a year.

In 1890, Charlotte wanted to study more at Johns Hopkins University. However, they did not accept women students at that time. She didn't give up! With help from Simon Newcomb, a math and astronomy professor, she was allowed to attend classes. She didn't have to enroll or pay. Two years later, she moved to New Haven. There, she continued her advanced studies at Yale. In 1895, she achieved something incredible. She became the first woman to get a Ph.D. in mathematics from Yale. Her special research paper was about "Functions Having Lines or Surfaces of Discontinuity."

A Career in Math and Beyond

After getting her Ph.D., Charlotte Barnum taught at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for one year. Then, she decided to leave teaching at universities. For the rest of her career, she worked in applied mathematics. This means she used math to solve real-world problems. She also did a lot of editing work for the government.

In 1898, she joined the American Academy of Actuaries. An actuary is someone who uses math to figure out risks, like for insurance companies. Until 1901, she worked as an "actuarial computer." This meant she did calculations for insurance companies. She worked for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company.

In 1901, she moved to Washington, D.C.. There, she worked as a computer for the United States Naval Observatory. This observatory studies the stars and planets. After that, she did similar work for the U.S. National Geodetic Survey. This group maps the Earth's surface and tides. She worked there until 1908. Then, she became an editorial assistant for the United States Department of Agriculture. She helped with their biological survey section until 1913.

In 1914, she left government work and returned to New Haven. She did editing for Yale's expeditions to Peru. She also worked for the Yale University secretary's office and the Yale University Press.

From 1917 onwards, she worked in different places. These included universities and organizations in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. She worked as an editor, an actuary, and a teacher. Throughout her life, Charlotte was very involved in social and charity groups. She cared about helping others. She passed away in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1934, at age seventy-three.

Groups She Joined

Charlotte Barnum was a member of several important groups:

• One of the first women to join the American Mathematical Society.
• A Fellow of the American Academy of Actuaries (AAAS).
• A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• An Alumnae Member of the Vassar College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
• A member of the Women's Joint Legislative Commission, which worked for equal rights.
• A member of the National Conference of Charities (now called the National Conference on Social Welfare).

See also

In Spanish: Charlotte Barnum para niños