Lao Genevra Simons facts for kids

Lao Genevra Simons (1870–1949) was an American mathematician. She was also a writer and a historian of mathematics. She is well-known for her important book, Fabre and Mathematics and Other Essays. Simons also led the math department at Hunter College in New York City.

Early Life and Education

Lao Genevra Simons was born on March 25, 1870. Her birthplace was San Jose, California. When she was six months old, her family moved. They settled in New Jersey.

Schooling and Degrees

As a child, Simons went to school in New Jersey. She later earned a teaching certificate. This was from the College for the Training of Teachers. This college is part of Columbia University. She also studied astronomy and math for a year. This was at Vassar College.

Simons earned her first college degree in 1908. It was a bachelor of science from Columbia University. She then earned a master's degree in 1912. In 1924, she completed her Ph.D. (a high-level degree). Her Ph.D. focused on education with a minor in mathematics. Her Ph.D. paper was about how algebra came to American schools. It was titled Introduction of algebra into American schools in the eighteenth century.

Scholarships in Her Name

After retiring from Hunter College, Simons started a scholarship. It was worth $1000. The scholarship was named after the math honor society, Pi Mu Epsilon. Friends and former students also created a second scholarship. This one was named in her honor.

Simons passed away on November 25, 1949. She was 79 years old. She died in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Career in Mathematics

After getting her teaching certificate, Simons taught at a school in Connecticut. She then taught elementary school for a year. This was in South Orange, New Jersey.

Hunter College Professor

In 1895, Simons was hired at Hunter College. She became a mathematics professor. At that time, she did not even have a bachelor's degree. In 1916, she became an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 1925. By 1928, she became a full professor. She also became the head of the math department.

Simons worked at Hunter College until she retired in 1940. She taught many math classes. These included advanced math and the history of mathematics. She was one of the first professors to teach these subjects. From 1934 to 1940, she also led the Student Activities committee.

Professional Involvement

Simons was a member of the American Mathematical Society. She joined in September 1923. She was also part of the Council of The History of Science Society. As a council member, she helped plan an event. This event honored Sir Isaac Newton.

Simons wrote many articles about math history. Her articles appeared in journals like Scripta Mathematica and The Mathematics Teacher. She was also an editor for Scripta Mathematica. She was the Book Review Editor from 1932 to 1949.

Major Works

Lao Genevra Simons wrote several important books and articles.

• Introduction of algebra into American schools in the eighteenth century (1924)
  • This was her Ph.D. paper. Simons said its goal was to show that algebra was part of American education early on. She also wanted to show that it wasn't just for practical reasons.
• “Algebra at Harvard College in 1730” (1925)
• Bibliography of Early American Textbooks on Algebra (1936)
  • This book summarized and described American algebra textbooks. It covered books published up to 1850.
• Fabre and Mathematics and Other Essays (1939)
  • This book included three essays she had published before: "Fabre and Mathematics," "The Influence of French Mathematicians at the End of the Eighteenth Century upon the Teaching of Mathematics in American Colleges," and "Short Stories in Colonial Geometry."
  • The only new essay in this book was "The Interest of Alexander von Humboldt in Mathematics."