GREAT WOMAN OF MATHEMATICS: DR. EUPHEMIA HAYNES, 1890-1980. First black woman to earn a PhD in mathematics. Martha Euphemia Lofton Haynes grew up in Washington, D.C., where a large community of freed slaves settled after the Civil War. The black community in the DC area #GWOM 1/6

was large and dynamic, resulting in many opportunities unavailable at the time in other parts of the country. Euphemia was born to a schoolteacher mom and dentist father. She was valedictorian at the M Street High School (lovely quote from her speech in pic). She married her 2/6

high school sweetheart in 1917, and they moved to Chicago to pursue higher education. She took graduate maths and earned a master's degree in education. She established and chaired the Maths department at Miner's Teachers College while pursuing her own PhD. The Catholic 3/6

University of America made her the first black woman to earn a maths PhD, in 1943. (!!!) A lifelong Catholic, Dr. Haynes was active in the leadership of Catholic Charities and outreach throughout her life, including hospitality and services that provided educational help to 4/6

the poor. She advocated constantly for equal opportunity for the poor and the abolishing of segregation. She believed that the point of science was to find the truth and advocated cooperation among the races in the service of this pursuit. (Quote from her in pic.) In 1959, 5/6

she was honored by Pope John XXIII with the Papal Medal for her life of service. She left over $700,000 to the Catholic University of America, which has honored her legacy with an endowed chair, an annual colloquium, and financial aid for students, all in her name. /end