20 Facts About Mina Rees

Mina Rees is known for her assistance to the US Government during WWII, as well as making several breakthroughs for women in science.

Mina Rees helped other women succeed in mathematics with her involvement in the Association for Women in Mathematics as well as her life-long career as a professor at Hunter College.

Mina Rees was the daughter of Moses and Alice Louise Mina Rees.

Mina Rees's mother emigrated from Germany in 1882.

Mina Rees grew up with four siblings: Elsie Isabella Rees, Albert L Rees, Clyde Harvey Rees, and Calrence Eugene Rees.

In 1955, Mina Rees married physician Leopold Brahdy who she had met a party in 1936.

Mina Rees died in 1997 at the Mary Manning Walsh home in Manhattan.

Mina Rees graduated valedictorian in 1919, after taking 4 years of mathematics classes.

Mina Rees received a master's degree in mathematics from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1925, where she studied law.

Mina Rees started teaching at Hunter College then took a sabbatical to study for the doctorate at the University of Chicago in 1929.

Mina Rees's advisor was Leonard Dickson, who agreed to help Rees with division algebra even though he was no longer in the field.

Mina Rees's decision was based on the fact she did not feel knowledgeable enough to be teaching at the college level so soon after her own graduation.

Mina Rees worked at Hunter High School as an assistant teacher while attending Columbia University for her master's degree.

In 1943, Mina Rees took another leave of absence to help with the war efforts.

When working on her PhD at the University of Chicago, Mina Rees was very interested in researching associative algebra.

Mina Rees's thesis was published in 1932 in the American Journal of Mathematics.

Mina Rees was especially instrumental in developing the ONR's implementation of projects studying mathematical algorithms for computing, as well as university research programs to build computers such as Project Whirlwind at MIT.

Mina Rees was an early proponent of magnetic-core and electrostatic memory, the use of transistor components rather than vacuum tubes, and the design of machines with visual displays and multiple inputs.

In 1962 Mina Rees received the first Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of America.

In 1965, Mina Rees was awarded the Achievement Award by the American Association of University Women, an award given annually in honor of women who have made outstanding contributions in their fields.