Janet McDonald (1905–2006) was an American mathematician who specialized in geometry, specifically the concept of Conjugate Nets. She taught at

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...

for 27 years and was named

professor emerita ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

in 1971.

Life and work

McDonald (sometimes spelled MacDonald) was born in

Wesson, Mississippi Wesson is a town in Copiah and Lincoln counties, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The town of Wesson was founded in 1864, during the Civil ...

, on September 3, 1905, and was the first child of Joseph McDonald and Bessie Walden McDonald.Ogilvie, M. B., & Harvey, J. D. (2000). The biographical dictionary of women in science: Pioneering lives from ancient times to the mid-20th century. New York: Routledge. p. 866. ISBN 978-0-415-92038-4 She earned her bachelor's degree from Belhaven College for Young Ladies in

Jackson Jackson may refer to: Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson oil field in Durham, ...

in 1925, and then she taught for three years in secondary schools in nearby Jefferson Davis County. She completed her M.A. degree in mathematics from

Tulane University The Tulane University of Louisiana (commonly referred to as Tulane University) is a private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by a cohort of medical doctors, it b ...

in 1929 and joined the faculty of

Mississippi Synodical College The Mississippi Synodical College is a historic building in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA. Formerly a religious college, it is home to the Marshall County Historical Society and Museum. Location The building is located at 220 College Avenue in ...

(1929-1932) to head the math department. In 1932, she was named department head and registrar at Hinds Junior College in

Raymond, Mississippi Raymond is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,933; in 2020, its population was 1,960. Raymond is one of two county seats of Hinds County (along with Jackson) and is the home ...

(1932-1941). With the start of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, McDonald enrolled at

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

to pursue her Ph.D. but after two years of study, she took on a teaching role there. She completed her doctorate in 1943 (showing her name as Janet MacDonald) with her dissertation titled ''Conjugate nets in asymptotic parameters.'' She was immediately hired by

in New York, first as an instructor and moving to professorships, chair and then professor emerita (1971). She particularly enjoyed teaching geometry and encouraged students to pursue advanced degrees in math. She remained there in a teaching capacity for 27 years. Throughout her life, she enjoyed studying and traveling abroad, "spending much of her leisure in England, Scotland (home of her paternal grandfather), France, Greece, and Spain. Her extended studies took her to the University of Rome and

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

." For example, in 1951, she spent the summer in her native Mississippi studying. She spent most of her time doing work in mathematics on projective differential geometry, especially conjugate nets, and studying Italian in preparation for her leave of absence second semester next year. At that time, she went to study projective differential geometry and algebraic geometry at the University of Rome. She chose Rome because Professors Enrico Bompina and

Francesco Severi Francesco Severi (13 April 1879 – 8 December 1961) was an Italian mathematician. He was the chair of the committee on Fields Medal in 1936, at the first delivery. Severi was born in Arezzo, Italy. He is famous for his contributions to algebra ...

, leaders in her field of study, were lecturing there. On her retirement in 1971, she returned to Jackson, Mississippi and taught some classes at her alma mater, Belhaven College. McDonald died October 29, 2006, in

Madison, Mississippi Madison is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, 11th most populous city in Mississippi, United States, located in Madison County, Mississippi, Madison County, north of the List of capitals in the United States, state capital, Jackson, Miss ...

, after a brief illness at 101 years of age.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonald, Janet 1905 births 2006 deaths American women centenarians Vassar College faculty Belhaven University alumni Tulane University alumni University of Chicago alumni American mathematics educators American mathematicians 20th-century American mathematicians 20th-century American women mathematicians