Margaret Eliza Maltby

Margaret Eliza Maltby, born on December tenth, eighteen sixty, was a pioneering American physicist and chemist whose contributions to the field of science were both significant and groundbreaking. She is particularly renowned for her innovative measurements of high electrolytic resistances and the conductivity of very dilute solutions, which advanced the understanding of physical chemistry.

As a trailblazer in education, Maltby made history by becoming the first woman to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She further distinguished herself as the first woman to obtain a Ph.D. in physics from any German university, setting a precedent for future generations of female scientists.

Her academic career spanned over three decades at Barnard College, where she not only taught but also introduced one of the earliest courses on the physics of music. Maltby was deeply committed to women's rights and played a vital role in the American Association of University Women, advocating for fellowships that enabled women to pursue academic research at a time when such opportunities were scarce.

In a personal aspect of her life, Maltby faced societal challenges when she had a child out of wedlock. Defying the norms of her time, she managed to maintain her academic career by keeping the birth a secret and later publicly claiming the child through adoption, showcasing her resilience and determination.