Mabel Augusta Chase | |
---|---|
![]() Chase, as a professor at Mount Holyoke College (1906–1933) | |
Born | October 11, 1865 |
Died | March 31, 1939 | (aged 73)
Alma mater | Oberlin College, Cornell University |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physics |
Institutions | Mount Holyoke College |
Mabel Augusta Chase (October 11, 1865 – March 31, 1939) was an American physicist and university professor.
Mabel Augusta Chase was born on October 11, 1865, in Lyndonville, New York. [1] Her parents were Julia Augusta Spence and Frederick Augustus Chase. [1] She was born as the eldest of five children, with only her two younger brothers surviving past childhood. [1]
Her father was a Presbyterian clergyman and minister as well as a professor of natural science. [2] He taught at Fisk University, a historically black university, in Nashville and was also president of Lyons Female College in Clinton, Iowa. [2] Both his passion for science and knack for teaching were passed onto his daughter, Mabel, who came to study physics. [1]
Chase attended Oberlin College from 1886 to 1888 and graduated with a degree in physics. [3] She then attended Cornell University, where she obtained her master's degree [1] and her PhD, [4] finishing in 1890. She wrote her dissertation on a subject that would be a common interest throughout her life: light. Specifically, the writing studied optics and the relationship between the shape of the human eye and the perception of color. [4]
After her studies, Chase became a teacher. She taught at Wellesley College, [5] Mount Holyoke College, [6] and other Massachusetts area schools [3] until she became an associate professor at Mount Holyoke in 1906. [7] She was a professor at Mount Holyoke from 1906 to 1933 and achieved the title of Professor Emeritus. [8] She was seen as the second in command of the physics department [9] during her time and mentored students and other professors. [10] Students described her as not very organized but very understanding and a good teacher. [9]
In addition to teaching, she conducted research and published her findings. [11] Her work throughout her career was varied but mostly centered around research and advancements in light and color. [11] Scientific journals published some of her work on light and iridescence. [12] Her work on advanced topics in physics [13] took her to other institutions, including the University of Chicago and the Imperial College of London. [1]
Along her own research, she also worked closely with Sarah Frances Whiting in establishing a physics laboratory at Wellesley College and investigating x-rays. [14] Their experiments were based on newly published work by German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen. [14] They used the same equipment which included a Crookes tube, an induction coil, [15] a battery, glass plates and holders, and photographic chemicals to produce "shadow photographs" or x-ray images. [14] While experimenting, they varied the objects examined, the timing of the photograph, and the materials used, in order to improve image quality and learn how x-rays would penetrate materials of different material and makeup. [14]
During her life and career, Chase was a member of various esteemed organizations related to her academic endeavors. [1] She was a member of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of University Women, and the Foreign Policy Association. [1]
Chase retired from Mount Holyoke College in 1933. [8] She died on March 31, 1939, after being injured in a car accident. [16] Like her father before her, Chase was buried in Nashville, Tennessee. [2] [16] She remains regarded as one of the most active and knowledgeable woman scientists in the field of physics during the early 20th century. [17]
Mabel Augusta Chase | |
---|---|
![]() Chase, as a professor at Mount Holyoke College (1906–1933) | |
Born | October 11, 1865 |
Died | March 31, 1939 | (aged 73)
Alma mater | Oberlin College, Cornell University |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physics |
Institutions | Mount Holyoke College |
Mabel Augusta Chase (October 11, 1865 – March 31, 1939) was an American physicist and university professor.
Mabel Augusta Chase was born on October 11, 1865, in Lyndonville, New York. [1] Her parents were Julia Augusta Spence and Frederick Augustus Chase. [1] She was born as the eldest of five children, with only her two younger brothers surviving past childhood. [1]
Her father was a Presbyterian clergyman and minister as well as a professor of natural science. [2] He taught at Fisk University, a historically black university, in Nashville and was also president of Lyons Female College in Clinton, Iowa. [2] Both his passion for science and knack for teaching were passed onto his daughter, Mabel, who came to study physics. [1]
Chase attended Oberlin College from 1886 to 1888 and graduated with a degree in physics. [3] She then attended Cornell University, where she obtained her master's degree [1] and her PhD, [4] finishing in 1890. She wrote her dissertation on a subject that would be a common interest throughout her life: light. Specifically, the writing studied optics and the relationship between the shape of the human eye and the perception of color. [4]
After her studies, Chase became a teacher. She taught at Wellesley College, [5] Mount Holyoke College, [6] and other Massachusetts area schools [3] until she became an associate professor at Mount Holyoke in 1906. [7] She was a professor at Mount Holyoke from 1906 to 1933 and achieved the title of Professor Emeritus. [8] She was seen as the second in command of the physics department [9] during her time and mentored students and other professors. [10] Students described her as not very organized but very understanding and a good teacher. [9]
In addition to teaching, she conducted research and published her findings. [11] Her work throughout her career was varied but mostly centered around research and advancements in light and color. [11] Scientific journals published some of her work on light and iridescence. [12] Her work on advanced topics in physics [13] took her to other institutions, including the University of Chicago and the Imperial College of London. [1]
Along her own research, she also worked closely with Sarah Frances Whiting in establishing a physics laboratory at Wellesley College and investigating x-rays. [14] Their experiments were based on newly published work by German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen. [14] They used the same equipment which included a Crookes tube, an induction coil, [15] a battery, glass plates and holders, and photographic chemicals to produce "shadow photographs" or x-ray images. [14] While experimenting, they varied the objects examined, the timing of the photograph, and the materials used, in order to improve image quality and learn how x-rays would penetrate materials of different material and makeup. [14]
During her life and career, Chase was a member of various esteemed organizations related to her academic endeavors. [1] She was a member of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of University Women, and the Foreign Policy Association. [1]
Chase retired from Mount Holyoke College in 1933. [8] She died on March 31, 1939, after being injured in a car accident. [16] Like her father before her, Chase was buried in Nashville, Tennessee. [2] [16] She remains regarded as one of the most active and knowledgeable woman scientists in the field of physics during the early 20th century. [17]