Improbable Warriors: Mathematicians Grace Hopper and Mina Rees in World War II [chapter]

Kathleen Williams
2003 Mathematics and War  
The vast expansion of the US Navy in World War II and its increasing reliance on quickly emerging new technologies owed its success, in part, to the previously overlooked work of women. Much of this work was at the level of technician and mechanic, but there were also numbers of women with advanced educational and professional qualifications who held responsible positions during the war and who made high-level contributions in technical fields. This paper focuses on the war work of two of these
more » ... women: mathematicians Grace Murray Hopper and Mina Spiegel Rees (1902-1997. Both were college professors until war service intervened. One joined the navy and the other remained a civilian, but between 1943 and 1945 each held positions from which they influenced the US Navy's ability to wage a modern, math-dependent war. The vast expansion of the US Navy in World War II and its increasing reliance on rapidly emerging new technologies owed its success, in part, to the work of women. Much of this work was at the level of technician and mechanic, but there were also women with advanced professional qualifications who held responsible positions during the war and who made high-level contributions in technical fields.
doi:10.1007/978-3-0348-8093-0_5 fatcat:msp322sad5d5rlp4d46ltodwja