Charlotte Scott
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Angas Scott D.Sc.(Lond.) (8 June 1858 – 10 November 1931, Cambridge
, England
) was a British
mathematician
who spent the later part of her career in the United States
and was influential in the development of American mathematics, including the mathematical education of women.
Scott played an important role in Cambridge
changing its rules for the Tripos
exam. In 1880, Scott obtained special permission to take the Tripos
, as women were not normally allowed to sit for the exam. She scored eighth on the Tripos, but due to her unofficial status, the title of "eighth wrangler" went to a male student. At the ceremony, after the seventh wrangler had been announced, all the students in audience shouted her name. After this incident women were allowed to formally take the exam and their exam scores listed, although separately from the men's and thus not included in the rankings. Women obtaining the necessary score also received a special certificate instead of the BA degree
with honors.
Educated at Girton College, Cambridge
from 1876 to 1880, she was then a Resident Lecturer in Mathematics there until 1884. In 1885 she was the first British woman to receive a doctoral
degree.
Moving to the United States, she was Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College
Pennsylvania
from 1885 to 1888 and Professor
from 1885 to 1917. During this period she directed the Ph.D.
theses of many pioneering women mathematicians. On retirement she settled in Cambridge
.
She presented the silver challenge cup for Girton and Newnham Lawn Tennis Doubles in 1883.
In 1906 Scott served as Vice-President of the American Mathematical Society
.
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mathematician
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
who spent the later part of her career in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and was influential in the development of American mathematics, including the mathematical education of women.
Scott played an important role in Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
changing its rules for the Tripos
Cambridge Mathematical Tripos
The Mathematical Tripos is the taught mathematics course at the University of Cambridge. It is the oldest Tripos that is examined in Cambridge.-Origin:...
exam. In 1880, Scott obtained special permission to take the Tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
, as women were not normally allowed to sit for the exam. She scored eighth on the Tripos, but due to her unofficial status, the title of "eighth wrangler" went to a male student. At the ceremony, after the seventh wrangler had been announced, all the students in audience shouted her name. After this incident women were allowed to formally take the exam and their exam scores listed, although separately from the men's and thus not included in the rankings. Women obtaining the necessary score also received a special certificate instead of the BA degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with honors.
Educated at Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
from 1876 to 1880, she was then a Resident Lecturer in Mathematics there until 1884. In 1885 she was the first British woman to receive a doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degree.
Moving to the United States, she was Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1885 to 1888 and Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
from 1885 to 1917. During this period she directed the Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
theses of many pioneering women mathematicians. On retirement she settled in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
.
She presented the silver challenge cup for Girton and Newnham Lawn Tennis Doubles in 1883.
In 1906 Scott served as Vice-President of the American Mathematical Society
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, which it does with various publications and conferences as well as annual monetary awards and prizes to mathematicians.The society is one of the...
.
External links
- "Charlotte Angas Scott", Biographies of Women Mathematicians, Agnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....