Ida Rhodes facts for kids

Ida Rhodes (left) shows her work in computer language translation. She was one of the first to understand how important it was to break down sentences and words for computers.

Ida Rhodes (born Hadassah Itzkowitz; May 15, 1900 – February 1, 1986) was an American mathematician. She was one of the important women who helped create early computers in the United States. She made big contributions to how computers understand and translate languages.

Early Life and Education

Ida Rhodes was born Hadassah Itzkowitz on May 15, 1900. Her birthplace was a Jewish village in Ukraine. It was called Kamianets-Podilskyi.

In 1913, when she was 13, her parents brought her to the United States. Her name was changed to Ida Itzkowitz when she arrived.

Just six years later, in 1919, Ida began studying mathematics. She attended Cornell University. She received a special scholarship from New York State. While studying, she also worked as a nurse's aid.

Ida was a very bright student. She was chosen for two honor societies. These were Phi Beta Kappa in 1922 and Phi Kappa Phi in 1923. She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics in February 1923. By September of the same year, she had also earned her master's degree.

Developing Computer Programs

Ida Itzkowitz married Solomon Alhadef Rhodes in 1922. After that, she became known as Ida Rhodes.

She met the famous scientist Albert Einstein in 1922. They met again in 1936 at Princeton University. There, mathematicians gathered for informal discussions.

Ida Rhodes joined the Mathematical Tables Project in 1940. This was a big step in her career. She worked under Gertrude Blanch, who became her mentor. A mentor is someone who guides and teaches you.

Ida Rhodes was a true pioneer in computer programming. She helped design the C-10 programming language. This was in the early 1950s for the UNIVAC I computer. She also created the first computer system used by the Social Security Administration. This system helps manage benefits for people.

In 1949, the Department of Commerce honored her. They gave her a Gold Medal. This award was for her "significant pioneering leadership." It also recognized her "outstanding contributions" to computer design.

Later Career and Legacy

Ida Rhodes retired in 1964. But she continued to work as a consultant. She advised the Applied Mathematics Division. This was part of the National Bureau of Standards. She worked there until 1971.

After retiring, her work became more widely known. She traveled around the world. She gave lectures and corresponded with people internationally.

In 1976, she received another award. The Department of Commerce gave her a Certificate of Appreciation. This was for the 25th Anniversary of UNIVAC I. In 1981, she was honored again. She was called a "UNIVAC I pioneer." Ida Rhodes passed away in 1986.

Ida Rhodes also created a special algorithm in 1977. This algorithm calculates Jewish holidays. It is still used in many calendar programs today. She also did important work in machine translation. This is teaching computers to translate human languages.

See also

In Spanish: Ida Rhodes para niños