Margaret K. Butler facts for kids

Margaret Kampschaefer Butler (March 27, 1924 – March 8, 2013) was a brilliant mathematician. She helped create and improve computer software. In the early 1950s, she played a key role in developing some of the first computers. Margaret Butler was also the first woman to become a fellow at the American Nuclear Society. She led the National Energy Software Center at Argonne. She held important roles in many science groups and women's organizations. She created and directed the National Energy Software Center. There, she managed a system for sharing and improving computer programs for nuclear power. She also helped set up the first rules for computer technology.

Early Life and Learning

Margaret Butler was born in Evansville, Indiana, on March 27, 1924. She went to Indiana University. There, she studied statistics and a type of math called differential calculus. She finished her studies and graduated in 1944.

Margaret Butler's Career in Computing

Starting Her Journey in Statistics

Margaret Butler began her career in 1944. She worked as a statistician at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While working there, she also taught math. She taught at the United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School. She also took advanced classes about how to collect and analyze data.

Working with Early Computers

About a year later, she joined the United States Army Air Forces. She worked as a civilian in Germany. After two years, she came back to the United States. She started working at Argonne National Laboratory. She was a junior mathematician in the Naval Reactors Division.

At Argonne, Margaret made important calculations for scientists. These scientists were building a test model for a submarine reactor. She also took classes about atomic physics and how to design nuclear reactors.

In 1949, she worked briefly at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Minnesota. But she returned to Argonne National Laboratory in 1951. After coming back, she became an assistant mathematician. She worked in the Reactor Engineering Division. There, she helped with AVIDAC, which was one of the first computers.

In the 1950s, she wrote computer programs. These programs were for reactor uses and mathematical tasks. She also created helpful tools for three other early Argonne computers. These computers were called the ORACLE, GEORGE, and UNIVAC.

Leading Computer Programming Teams

From 1959 to 1965, Margaret Butler led a team at Argonne. This team was in the Applied Mathematics Division. They focused on application programming. She created teams to solve problems in computer programs. These programs were used in many areas. This included reactors, biology, chemistry, physics, and high energy physics.

In 1960, she helped create the Argonne Code Center. This center later became the National Energy Software Center (NESC). Margaret Butler became the director of the NESC. She held this important role from 1972 to 1991.

Becoming a Pioneer in Nuclear Science

In 1972, Margaret Butler made history. She became the first woman to be named a fellow of the American Nuclear Society. This honor came after she was nominated the year before. She also advised the European Nuclear Energy Agency. She helped them set up their computer program.

In 1980, Margaret was promoted again. She became a Senior Computer Scientist at Argonne. She officially retired in 1991. However, she continued to work at Argonne from 1993 to 2006. She worked as a "special term appointee."

Margaret Butler's Lasting Impact

Supporting Women in Science

While at Argonne, Margaret Butler strongly supported her female colleagues. Women who worked with her saw her as a great role model. They said she had a welcoming presence. Her son, Jay, shared her thoughts on women in the workplace. She believed women were "given all the responsibilities and none of the authorities." She felt they had to work "harder and smarter" but were still not treated fairly.

As Margaret moved up in her career at Argonne, she made sure to hire women. She also recommended them for promotions. She worked with other women to start an Association for Women in Science (AWIS) in Chicago. She held leadership positions on the AWIS executive board. She also led two conferences for high school students, teachers, and school leaders.

Honoring Her Legacy

The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility created a special honor. They established the Margaret Butler Fellowship in Computational Science. This fellowship is for postdoctoral researchers. It was created to remember and celebrate her important contributions.