Ruth Gentry

Ruth Gentry (February 22, 1862 – October 18, 1917) was a pioneering American woman mathematician during the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. She was the first native-born Indiana woman to acquire a PhD degree in mathematics, and most likely the first woman born in Indiana to receive a PhD in any scientific discipline.^[1]

Early years and education

Ruth Ellen Gentry was the youngest of three children born to Jeremiah Gentry (1827–1906) and Lucretia Wilcox (1830–1909). Jeremiah was a farmer and stock trader who moved to Hendricks County, Indiana from Bullitt County, Kentucky, when he was five years old, and remained there the rest of his life. Ruth and her siblings, Oliver (1853–1878) and Mary Frances (1860–1929) were born and grew up on a farm near to Stilesville, Indiana. Ruth’s early education took place there as well.^[2]

Gentry received her A.B. degree from Indiana Normal (now Indiana State University) in 1880. She then taught at preparatory schools for ten years. In 1890 she received her Ph.B degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan. In 1891 she was a Fellow in Mathematics at Bryn Mawr.^[3]

Following her year at Bryn Mawr she was awarded the Association of College Alumnae European Fellowship, becoming the first mathematician and second recipient of the honor. She used the fellowship in 1891–1892, attending lectures at the University of Berlin. (She was, however, not permitted to enroll for a degree.) She remained in Europe for an additional semester, attending lectures in mathematics at the Sorbonne in Paris.^[3]

Upon her return to Bryn Mawr Gentry became one of Charlotte Scott’s first two graduate students. In 1896 she was awarded her Ph.D. on the subject “On the Forms of Plane Quartic Curves.”^[3]

Career

After earning her Ph.D. Gentry taught at Vassar College. She was the first person on the mathematics faculty at Vassar to hold a Ph.D. degree. In 1900 she was made associate professor. Two years later Gentry left Vassar to become the associate principal and head of the mathematics department at Miss Gleim’s, a private school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[2] In 1905 she left this position and became a volunteer nurse. She traveled in the United States and Europe for a time, but became ill. Her illness progress until she died at the age of 55 in 1917.^[3]

Mathematical interests

Gentry’s main interest was in geometry, especially the study of quartic curves, which was the content of her thesis.^[1]

Honors

Gentry became a member of the New York Mathematical Society in February, 1894, which later became the American Mathematical Society.^[1]

Illness and death

There is speculation that Gentry left her job at Vassar in 1902 due to illness, and left her job at Miss Gleim’s in 1905 due to the worsening of her condition. She died in Indianapolis, Indiana from breast cancer, and was buried in Stilesville Cemetery in Stilesville, Indiana.^[2]

References