The Black Heroes of Mathematics

Front

Multi-talented person who self-taught himself in astronomy and math. He was also a writer, civil rights leader, compiler of almanacs, surveyor, farmer, and inventor.

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Benjamin Banneker

Front

African-American mathematician, mechanical engineer, and nuclear scientist born in Chicago, Illinois.

Back

Jesse Ernest Wilkins Jr.

Front

American mathematician and teacher born in Washington, D.C. Her father was a dentist and her mother was a kindergarten teacher.

Back

Euphemia Lofton Jaynes

Front

Mathematician who finished his Ph.D. at 19 and was referred by people as “genius.”

Back

Jesse Ernest Wilkins Jr.

Front

Mathematician who taught in the public schools of Washington, D.C. for 47 years and also helped with the integration of D.C. schools.

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Euphemia Lofton Jaynes

Front

Mathematician who built his own clock by making detailed drawings of all the pieces of a watch he borrowed from a merchant. Then, he built a larger version of the watch out of wood. The clock continued to work until his death.

Back

Benjamin Banneker

Front

After he was discharged from the Army, he started his career as a high school math tutor and then a math teacher.

Back

Elbert Frank Cox

Front

Born in New York. He was an excellent student in math and became a math teacher at 14 years old.

Back

Charles Lewis Reason

Front

Mathematician who became the first black person in the world to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics.

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Elbert Frank Cox

Front

Mathematician who became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics.

Back

Euphemia Lofton Jaynes