Pauline Sperry facts for kids
Pauline Sperry (born March 5, 1885 – died September 24, 1967) was an important American mathematician. She made great contributions to the field of mathematics. She also stood up for her beliefs during a difficult time in history.
Early Life and Schooling
Pauline Sperry was born in Peabody, Massachusetts. Her parents were both schoolteachers. Her father, William Gardner Sperry, was also a minister. He later became the president of Olivet College. Pauline started her college studies at Olivet College. She then moved to Smith College.
She graduated from Smith College in 1906 when she was 21. She was chosen for Phi Beta Kappa, an honor society for smart students. After teaching at a private school, she went back to Smith in 1907. There, she studied mathematics and music. She earned a master's degree in music in 1908. She kept teaching at Smith until 1912.
Sperry began studying at the University of Chicago in 1913. She earned another master's degree, this time in mathematics, in 1914. She then worked on her PhD. Her main teacher was Ernest Julius Wilczynski. He was a founder of a special type of math called "projective differential geometry." Pauline earned her PhD in mathematics and astronomy in 1916. She was also chosen for the Sigma Xi honor society for scientists.
Later Career and Challenges
After teaching at Smith College for another year, Sperry started working at the University of California at Berkeley in 1917. She stayed there for the rest of her career. In 1923, she became an assistant professor. This made her the first woman to get a permanent teaching position in mathematics at the university. One of her students at Berkeley was Raymundo Favila.
During a time known as McCarthyism, university workers had to sign a "loyalty oath." This oath was a promise to be loyal to the government. It was meant to make sure people were not communists. Pauline Sperry and others, like Hans Lewy, refused to sign. They believed it was wrong to force people to sign such an oath. Because they refused, they were stopped from teaching in 1950. They did not get paid.
However, the California Supreme Court later decided the loyalty oath was against the law. This happened in 1952. Pauline Sperry was given her job back. She was named an "emeritus associate professor." This means she was a retired professor but still honored by the university. She also received the pay she had missed.
Personal Life
Pauline Sperry was an active member of the Quaker community. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. She was involved in many groups that worked for good causes. These included helping people and supporting political ideas she believed in.
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