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Pioneering Women in American Mathematics (History of Mathematics)

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Meticulously researched, this book offers an in-depth look at a particular group of interesting women: those who obtained the Ph.D. in mathematics before 1940. The brief biographical entry for each of the 228 women is more a well-written and appreciative "portrait" than a mere listing of historical facts. As a whole, the entries provide the rich background from which the authors draw historical overviews and conclusions about the accomplishments (both great and mundane) of these women. Some of the women became famous; many did not. The surprisingly readable and accessible essay by LaDuke and Green puts these women into historical perspective. It is great fun to refer to the individual entries that augment and reinforce the authors' conclusions. The work (and the accompanying free website that gives even more biographical and bibliographical detail) is a brilliant piece of research and scholarship.