Evelyn Boyd Granville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Evelyn Boyd Granville
Boyd in 1945
Born	(1924-05-01)May 1, 1924 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	June 27, 2023(2023-06-27) (aged 99) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	Smith College, Yale University
Awards	honorary doctorate: Smith College honorary doctorate: Spelman College Sam A. Lindsey Chair of the University of Texas at Tyler
Scientific career
Fields	Mathematics, computer science, education
Thesis	On Laguerre Series in the Complex Domain (1949)
Doctoral advisor	Einar Hille

Evelyn Boyd Granville (born May 1, 1924, died June 27, 2023) was an amazing American mathematician and computer scientist. She made history as the second African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. (a very advanced degree) in mathematics from a university in the United States. She received this special degree in 1949 from Yale University. Before that, she graduated from Smith College in 1945. Evelyn Boyd Granville did groundbreaking work in the world of computers and technology.

Evelyn's Early Life and School Days

Evelyn Boyd was born in Washington, D.C.. Her father had many different jobs during a tough economic time called the Great Depression. Evelyn and her older sister were raised by her mother and aunt. Both women worked hard at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Evelyn was a brilliant student. She was the top student, or valedictorian, at Dunbar High School. This school was known for its excellent academics for African-American students in Washington at that time.

With help from her aunt and a scholarship, Evelyn went to Smith College in 1941. She loved math and physics, and also enjoyed studying astronomy. She earned top honors and graduated in 1945. Evelyn then decided to continue her studies in mathematics.

She was accepted into advanced programs at both Yale University and the University of Michigan. She chose Yale because they offered her financial support. At Yale, she earned a master's degree in 1946. Then, in 1949, she completed her Ph.D. in mathematics. Her special research paper was about "On Laguerre Series in the Complex Domain."

Evelyn's Amazing Career Journey

After finishing her Ph.D., Evelyn Boyd worked at New York University. She did research and taught mathematics there. In 1950, she became a teacher at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. This was a college for African-American students. Two of her students, Vivienne Malone-Mayes and Etta Zuber Falconer, later earned their own advanced math degrees.

In 1952, Evelyn left university teaching. She started working in Washington at the Diamond Ordnance Fuze Laboratories. Then, in 1956, she joined IBM as a computer programmer. This was a very important job! When IBM got a contract with NASA, Evelyn moved to the Vanguard Computing Center.

Working with NASA and Space Exploration

Evelyn moved to New York City in 1957. After she married Reverend G. Mansfield Collins in 1960, she moved to Los Angeles. There, she worked for the U.S. Space Technology Laboratories. This company later became the North American Aviation Space and Information Systems Division.

She played a key role in the Apollo program. This was the famous program that sent astronauts to the Moon! Evelyn worked on important calculations. These included understanding how objects move in space (celestial mechanics). She also helped figure out the paths spacecraft would take. Her work involved using advanced "digital computer techniques."

Teaching and Inspiring Others

In 1967, Evelyn became a full professor of mathematics at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). She taught there for many years. After retiring from CSULA in 1984, she continued to teach. She taught at Texas College and then at the University of Texas at Tyler.

At the University of Texas at Tyler, she became the Sam A. Lindsey Professor of mathematics. She created special math programs to help elementary school students learn more. Evelyn Boyd Granville was also a strong supporter of women getting an education in technology. She believed in helping more girls and women succeed in these fields.

Facing Challenges and Promoting Fairness

In 1951, Evelyn Boyd Granville and some of her colleagues attended a math meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. They were able to go to the main science talks. However, when it was time for the closing dinner, the people organizing it unfairly refused to let them attend. This was because of their race.

Evelyn and her colleagues, including Lee Lorch, spoke up about this unfair treatment. They wrote to the leaders of the major math organizations. They wanted rules to prevent such unfairness in the future. While the specific rules weren't changed, new policies were put in place. These policies made sure that everyone would be treated fairly at future events. This was an important step towards making things better for everyone in science.

Evelyn's Personal Life

Evelyn Boyd married Reverend Gamaliel Mansfield Collins in 1961. They later divorced in 1967. In 1970, she married Edward V. Granville. They moved to Tyler, Texas, in 1983.

After Edward passed away, Evelyn returned to Washington, D.C. in 2010. She enjoyed her retirement there. She was always quick to correct anyone who said that "women can't do math." She knew from her own life that this was not true!

Evelyn Boyd Granville passed away on June 27, 2023, at the age of 99. Her important papers and records are kept at Smith College's Special Collections. She donated them in 2015 so others could learn from her life.

Evelyn Boyd Granville Quotes

• "I always smile when I hear that women cannot excel in mathematics."
• "We accepted education as the means to rise above the limitations that a prejudiced society endeavored to place upon us."

Awards and Special Recognitions

Evelyn Boyd Granville received many awards for her amazing contributions.

• In 1989, her former college, Smith College, gave her a special honorary doctorate degree. This was the first time an American college gave such an honor to an African-American woman mathematician.
• From 1990 to 1991, she held the Sam A. Lindsey Chair at the University of Texas at Tyler. This is a very respected teaching position.
• In 1998, the National Academy of Engineering honored her.
• The United States National Academy of Sciences included her in their collection of portraits of African-Americans in Science in 1999.
• In 2000, she received the Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal. This is the highest honor from the Yale Graduate School Alumni Association.
• In 2001, the state of Virginia mentioned her in a special resolution. This resolution helped create "African-American Scientist and Inventor Day."
• Spelman College also gave her an honorary degree in 2006.
• In 2016, a technology company called New Relic recognized her. They named her one of "four giants of women's contributions to science and technology."
• In 2019, she was honored by Mathematically Gifted & Black during Black History Month.

See also

In Spanish: Evelyn Boyd Granville para niños