Ida Martha Metcalf facts for kids

Ida Martha Metcalf (born August 26, 1857 – died October 24, 1952) was an amazing American mathematician. She made history by becoming only the second woman in the United States to earn a PhD in mathematics.

Growing Up

Ida Metcalf was born in Texas in 1857. Her parents were Charles A. and Martha C. Metcalf. When she was young, her family moved around the southern United States. After her father passed away, Ida moved to New England with her mother and siblings. By 1870, she was living in Massachusetts. There, she worked as a school teacher for many years.

Her Education Journey

Ida began her studies at Boston University in 1883. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 1886. From 1888 to 1889, she continued her education at Cornell University. At Cornell, she earned a master's degree in mathematics.

After teaching for a while at Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, she went back to Cornell. In 1893, Ida achieved a great milestone. She earned her PhD, becoming the second American woman to do so in mathematics. Her PhD paper was about "Geometric Duality in Space."

Working Life

After getting her PhD, Ida Metcalf taught high school for many years. She also worked for several financial companies. She even worked as a Civil Service Examiner. This job involves testing people who want to work for the government.

In 1912, Ida became a statistician for New York City's Department of Finance. A statistician uses math to understand and explain data. She worked there until she retired in 1921.

Later Years

Even after retiring, Ida continued to work sometimes. She kept working as a Civil Service Examiner until 1939. In 1948, she became seriously ill. From then on, she lived in nursing homes. Ida Martha Metcalf passed away in 1952 at the age of ninety-six.