Susan jane cunningham biography

Susan Jane Cunningham

American mathematician

Susan Jane Cunningham (March 23, 1842 – January 24, 1921) was an American mathematician instrumental in the founding and development of Swarthmore College.[1] She was born in Maryland, and studied mathematics and astronomy with Maria Mitchell at Vassar College as a special student during 1866–67.[1] She also studied those subjects during several summers at Harvard University, Princeton University, Newnham College, Cambridge, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and Williams College.[1]

Early life and education

Mary Jane Cunningham was born in Harford County, Maryland, March 23, 1842. On her mother's side she was of Quaker descent. Her mother died in 1845, and Susan was left to the care of her grandparents.

She attended a Friends' school until she was fifteen years old, when it was decided that she should prepare for the work of teaching. She was sent to a Friends' boarding-school in Montgomery County, Maryland for a year, when family cares required her to return home, and she continued her stu

Susan Jane Cunningham

Susan Jane Cunningham est née le 23 mars 1842 et morte le 24 janvier 1921. Elle est une mathématicienne américaine qui a joué un rôle majeur dans la fondation et le développement du Swarthmore College[1].

Formation et carrière

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Susan Jane Cunningham est née le à Bond Head, dans le Comté de Simcoe, en Ontario. Elle est la fille de William Cunningham et Altha Eliza Lewis[2]. Elle grandit en Virginie, et étudie les mathématiques et l'astronomie avec Maria Mitchell au Vassar College en tant qu'étudiante spéciale en 1866–67[1]. Elle étudie aussi ces sujets durant plusieurs étés à l'Université Harvard, l'Université de Princeton, Newnham College, à Cambridge, l'observatoire Greenwich en Angleterre et Williams College[1].

En 1869 elle est l'une des fondatrices des départements de mathématiques et d'astronomie à Swarthmore, elle dirige ces deux divisions jusqu'à sa retraite en 1906[3]. Elle est la première professeure d'astronomie de Swarthmore et elle est professeure de mathématiques au collège ouvert en 1871[1],

Susan Jane Cunningham

Quick Info

Born
23 March 1842
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Died
24 January 1921
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA

Summary
Susan Jane Cunningham was a mathematician and astronomer who founded the Mathematics and Astronomy Departments at Swarthmore College. She was one of the first seven women to join the New York Mathematical Society in 1891.


Biography

Susan Jane Cunningham was the daughter of Edward Lloyd Cunningham and Elizabeth H Hollingsworth. Elizabeth was a Quaker from a large Quaker family of farmers. Edward and Elizabeth were married on 5 September 1838 at Harford, Maryland, USA. They had three children: Elizabeth Caroline Cunningham (born 17 November 1839), Susan Jane Cunningham (born 23 March 1842, the subject of this biography), and Robert Hollingsworth Cunningham (born 23 May 1844). We have not been able to determine exactly what happened around 1845 but certainly tragedy struck the family soon after Robert was born. The biographical sketch of Susan Cunningham written in 1893, when she was about 50 years old, states [22]:-
Her

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