Herta Freitag facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herta Freitag
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| Born |
Herta Taussig
December 6, 1908 |
| Died | January 25, 2000 |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna, Columbia University |
| Awards | president Mathematical Association of America |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Hollins College |
Herta Freitag (born December 6, 1908 – died January 25, 2000) was an amazing mathematician. She was born in Austria and later became an American citizen. Herta was a professor at Hollins College. She is especially famous for her studies on Fibonacci numbers.
Contents
Herta Freitag's Early Life
Herta Taussig was born in Vienna, Austria. She earned her first master's degree in 1934. This was from the University of Vienna. After graduating, she started teaching at the university.
Moving to a New Country
In 1938, Herta and her parents had to leave Austria. Her father, a newspaper editor, had spoken out against the Nazis. They moved to England. Because of immigration rules, Herta could not teach there. She worked as a maid instead.
Her father passed away in 1943. In 1944, Herta, her brother Walter, and her mother moved again. They came to the United States. Herta's brother, Walter Taussig, became a famous conductor. In the U.S., Herta began teaching math again. She taught at the Greer School in New York.
Herta's Academic Journey
Herta continued her education in the United States. She earned a second master's degree in 1948. This degree was from Columbia University. She then earned her doctorate from Columbia in 1953.
Teaching at Hollins College
In 1948, Herta joined the faculty at Hollins College. She became a full professor there. She also became the head of the math department. In 1950, she married Arthur Freitag.
In 1962, Herta made history. She became a section president for the Mathematical Association of America. She was the first woman in her section to hold this role. Herta retired from teaching in 1971. However, she returned to teaching in 1979. This was after her husband, Arthur, passed away.
Recognition and Legacy
Herta Freitag received many honors for her work. In 1959, she was named a Fellow. This was by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
After she retired, Herta wrote many articles. She often contributed to the Fibonacci Quarterly. This is a journal about Fibonacci numbers. In 1996, the journal honored her. They dedicated an issue to her 89th birthday. The number 89 is a special Fibonacci number!
