Winifred "Tim" Alice Asprey (April 8, 1917 – October 19, 2007) was an American mathematician and computer scientist. She was one of only around 200 women to earn PhDs in mathematics from American universities during the 1940s, a period of women's underrepresentation in mathematics at this level.[1] She was involved in developing the close contact between Vassar College and IBM that led to the establishment of the first computer science lab at Vassar.[1]
Asprey was born in Sioux City, Iowa; her parents were Gladys Brown Asprey, Vassar class of 1905, and Peter Asprey Jr.[2] She had two brothers, actinide and fluorine chemist Larned B. Asprey (1919–2005), a signer of the Szilárd petition, and military historian and writer Robert B. Asprey (1923–2009) who dedicated several of his books to his sister Winifred.[3][4]
Education and workedit
Asprey attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1938. As a student there, Asprey met Grace Hopper, the "First Lady of Computing," who taught mathematics at the time. After graduating, Asprey taught at several private schools in New York City and Chicago before going on to earn her MS and PhD degrees from the University of Iowa in 1942 and 1945, respectively.[2] Her doctoral advisor was the topologist Edward Wilson Chittenden.[5]
Asprey returned to Vassar College as a professor. By then, Grace Hopper had moved to Philadelphia to work on UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) project. Asprey became interested in computing and visited Hopper to learn about the foundations of computer architecture.[2] Asprey believed that computers would be an essential part of a liberal arts education.
At Vassar, Asprey taught mathematics and computer science for 38 years and was the chair of the mathematics department from 1957 until her retirement in 1982.[6] She created the first Computer Science courses at Vassar, the first being taught in 1963, and secured funds for the college's first computer, making Vassar the second college in the nation to acquire an IBM System/360 computer in 1967.[7] Asprey connected with researchers at IBM and other research centers and lobbied for computer science at Vassar. In 1989, due to her contributions, the computer center she started was renamed the Asprey Advanced Computation Laboratory.[2]
Referencesedit
^ ab Margaret Anne Marie Murray (2001). Women Becoming Mathematicians: Creating a Professional Identity in Post-World War II America. MIT Press. ISBN0-262-63246-2.
^ abcd "Winifred "Tim" Asprey, computer pioneer and longtime professor at Vassar College, dies at 90". Vassar Office of College Relations.
^ "Dr. Larned "Larry" Brown Asprey". Obituaries. Albuquerque Journal(. March 11, 2005.
^"New College Receives Gift from Estate of Robert B. Asprey". New College of Florida. June 15, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
^ "Scientists in the News". Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 125 (3257): 1080–1081. 1957. doi:10.1126/science.125.3257.1077. JSTOR 1752434. PMID 17756202.
^. Vassar Office of College Relations. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
External linksedit
at Vassar College Innovators Gallery
Winifred Asprey Papers at Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library
March 22, 2024
winifred, asprey, winifred, alice, asprey, april, 1917, october, 2007, american, mathematician, computer, scientist, only, around, women, earn, phds, mathematics, from, american, universities, during, 1940s, period, women, underrepresentation, mathematics, thi. Winifred Tim Alice Asprey April 8 1917 October 19 2007 was an American mathematician and computer scientist She was one of only around 200 women to earn PhDs in mathematics from American universities during the 1940s a period of women s underrepresentation in mathematics at this level 1 She was involved in developing the close contact between Vassar College and IBM that led to the establishment of the first computer science lab at Vassar 1 Winifred AspreyBorn 1917 04 08 April 8 1917Sioux City IowaDiedOctober 19 2007 2007 10 19 aged 90 Poughkeepsie town New YorkAlma materVassar CollegeUniversity of IowaScientific careerFieldsMathematics computer scienceDoctoral advisorEdward Wilson Chittenden Contents 1 Family 2 Education and work 3 References 4 External linksFamily editAsprey was born in Sioux City Iowa her parents were Gladys Brown Asprey Vassar class of 1905 and Peter Asprey Jr 2 She had two brothers actinide and fluorine chemist Larned B Asprey 1919 2005 a signer of the Szilard petition and military historian and writer Robert B Asprey 1923 2009 who dedicated several of his books to his sister Winifred 3 4 Education and work editAsprey attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie New York where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1938 As a student there Asprey met Grace Hopper the First Lady of Computing who taught mathematics at the time After graduating Asprey taught at several private schools in New York City and Chicago before going on to earn her MS and PhD degrees from the University of Iowa in 1942 and 1945 respectively 2 Her doctoral advisor was the topologist Edward Wilson Chittenden 5 Asprey returned to Vassar College as a professor By then Grace Hopper had moved to Philadelphia to work on UNIVAC Universal Automatic Computer project Asprey became interested in computing and visited Hopper to learn about the foundations of computer architecture 2 Asprey believed that computers would be an essential part of a liberal arts education At Vassar Asprey taught mathematics and computer science for 38 years and was the chair of the mathematics department from 1957 until her retirement in 1982 6 She created the first Computer Science courses at Vassar the first being taught in 1963 and secured funds for the college s first computer making Vassar the second college in the nation to acquire an IBM System 360 computer in 1967 7 Asprey connected with researchers at IBM and other research centers and lobbied for computer science at Vassar In 1989 due to her contributions the computer center she started was renamed the Asprey Advanced Computation Laboratory 2 References edit a b Margaret Anne Marie Murray 2001 Women Becoming Mathematicians Creating a Professional Identity in Post World War II America MIT Press ISBN 0 262 63246 2 a b c d Winifred Tim Asprey computer pioneer and longtime professor at Vassar College dies at 90 Vassar Office of College Relations Dr Larned Larry Brown Asprey Obituaries Albuquerque Journal March 11 2005 New College Receives Gift from Estate of Robert B Asprey New College of Florida June 15 2009 Retrieved December 10 2009 Winifred Asprey at the Mathematics Genealogy Project Scientists in the News Science American Association for the Advancement of Science 125 3257 1080 1081 1957 doi 10 1126 science 125 3257 1077 JSTOR 1752434 PMID 17756202 Winifred Asprey Into the Future Vassar Office of College Relations Archived from the original on May 2 2016 Retrieved January 31 2014 External links editProfile at Vassar College Innovators Gallery Winifred Asprey Papers at Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Winifred Asprey amp oldid 1208816449, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
