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"The Mathematics Department dates back to the original Charter from King William and Queen Mary on February 6, 1693. Mathematics was represented by one of the six Masters or Professors, and when the full faculty was assembled in 1729, the original masterships were in Divinity, Philosophy, Oriental Languages, Mathematics, the Grammar School and the Indian School."

Professors

The first appointed professor of mathematics at William & Mary was Tanaquil Le Fevere in 1711. His official title was "Professor of Philosophy and Mathematics." Le Fevere did stay long at William & Mary due to some immoral proprieties. In 1717, Rev. Hugh Jones became the second professor of philosophy and mathematics. (Stetson)

Mathematics welcomed its first female professor in 1925. Professor Beulah Russell began her tenure at William & Mary as an Assistant Professor. She taught at the College for fifteen years, until her death in February 1940. 2 While Professor Russell was the first female professor, the College employed two female instructors in mathematics, Elizabeth Berger (1922-1925) and Elizabeth Mercer (1925-1926). (Stetson)

Curriculum

The book The College of William & Mary: A History (Susan H. Godson, et al., 1993) provides an overview of William & Mary's curriculum throughout its history. Another helpful source would be to pursue research of professors who taught mathematics including Hugh Jones.

References

  • Mathematics Department webpage
  • John Minor Stetson, "Mathematics at William & Mary," Alumni Gazette 9.4 (1942): 8-9, 31-32. Mathematics, University Archives Subject File Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • "Beulah Russell Death Mourned by College," The Flat Hat, February 27, 1940. The Flat Hat online archive

Material in the Special Collections Research Center

  • Department of Mathematics Records, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • "Curriculum--Mathematics," University Archives Subject File Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • Various administrative office records including the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Office of the Provost, etc. See the SCRC Collections Database.
  • Results for the subject heading Mathematics--Study and Teaching.

 

Want to find out more?

To search for further material, visit the Special Collections Research Center's Search Tool List for other resources to help you find materials of interest.

Questions? Have ideas or updates for articles you'd like to see? Contact the Special Collections Research Center at spcoll@wm.edu or 757-221-3090.

A note about the contents of this site

This website contains the best available information from known sources at the time it was written. Unfortunately, many of the early original records of William & Mary were destroyed by fires, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. The information in this website is not complete, and it changes as we continue to research and uncover new sources.