Mary was a smart teacher. She loved to learn about computers. She was one of the first women to do this. She helped many people learn how to use them. This helped us all learn more. Do you like computers?
Mary was a smart teacher. She loved to learn about computers. She was one of the first women to do this. She earned a very high degree in computer science. This is a top level of learning.
Mary helped make a new way for computers to talk. This way is called BASIC. She also wrote books to help others learn. She wanted more women to work with computers.
Mary started a new computer group at a college. She led this group for twenty years. She believed computers could help everyone learn more. She was a true pioneer in her work.
Mary Kenneth Keller was a pioneer in computer science. This is the study of how computers work. She was the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in this field. A Ph.D. is a very high level of learning. She earned her degree in 1965.
Mary helped develop a way for people to talk to computers. This way is called BASIC. She worked with Thomas Kurtz to help make it. She also wrote a book to teach others how to use it. Mary believed computers could help people learn more. She wanted more women to work with computers.
In 1965, Mary started a computer department at Clarke College. This is a school in Iowa. She led this department for twenty years. The National Science Foundation gave her money to buy tools for teaching. This money helped students learn. Today, the college has a center named after her. They also have a scholarship to help students study computer science. Mary wrote four books about her work. She truly believed computers were great tools for all subjects.
Mary Kenneth Keller was a pioneer in the world of computers. She was an American educator and a religious sister. Most importantly, she was a leader in computer science. This is the study of how computers work and how to use them. She was the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in this field.
A Ph.D. is the highest level of learning a person can achieve. She earned this degree in 1965 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. On that same day, a man named Irving C. Tang also earned his doctorate. They were the first two people to receive these special degrees in computer science.
Mary helped create new ways for people to use technology. In 1961, she worked at Dartmouth College during a summer program. There, she worked with Thomas Kurtz to help develop a language called BASIC. BASIC is a way for humans to give instructions to a computer.
Mary became a very skilled teacher of this language. She even co-wrote a famous textbook about it in 1973. She wanted to make sure people could talk to machines easily. She believed computers could help everyone get more information.
Mary's life was full of learning and teaching. She was born Evelyn Marie Keller in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1913. Her parents were John Adam Keller and Catherine Josephine Keller.
She joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1932. Later, she earned degrees in math and physics from DePaul University in Chicago. Her doctoral work focused on something called inductive inference. This means she studied how computers find patterns in data. She used a system called CDC FORTRAN 63 for her research.
In 1965, Mary moved to Dubuque, Iowa, to start a new department. This department was for computer science at Clarke College.
It was one of the first of its kind at a small college. The National Science Foundation gave her $25,000 to help buy equipment for students. She led this department for twenty years. Mary also helped start a group called the Association of Small Computer Users in Education. She wanted to help more women join the world of computing. She even wrote four books to share her knowledge.
We can see Mary's legacy in schools today. Clarke University now has the Keller Computer Center named after her.
They also have a special scholarship for students in her honor. Mary believed that computers were the greatest tool ever invented. She said they could be used for many different subjects at once. This is called being interdisciplinary. She wanted computers to help people in science, math, and even food service. Her work helped open doors for many people who use computers today.
Mary Kenneth Keller was a pioneering American educator and religious sister. She was a leader in the field of computer science. This scientific discipline involves the study of computers and computational systems. Keller was a true trailblazer for women in technology. She was the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. This is the highest academic degree a person can receive in a specific field of study. She earned her doctorate in 1965 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. On that same day, a man named Irving C. Tang also received his doctorate. They were the first two people to be awarded these specific degrees in computer science.
Keller's journey into advanced science began with a strong foundation in mathematics. She was born Evelyn Marie Keller in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 17, 1913. Her parents were John Adam Keller and Catherine Josephine Keller. She joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1932. She eventually earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from DePaul University in 1943. Later, in 1953, she earned a Master of Science in Mathematics and Physics from the same institution. These mathematical skills were essential for her future work with complex computer systems.
During her graduate studies, Keller worked with several important academic institutions. She was affiliated with the University of Michigan, Purdue University, and Dartmouth College. In 1961, she participated in a summer program for high school teachers at Dartmouth. While there, she worked alongside Thomas Kurtz. Kurtz is known as the father of the BASIC programming language. BASIC is a language designed to allow humans to give instructions to computers. Keller became a highly proficient teacher of BASIC. She even co-wrote a prominent textbook on the subject in 1973 to help others learn.
Keller's doctoral research was highly technical and focused on complex mathematical patterns. Her dissertation was titled "Inductive Inference on Computer Generated Patterns." This research focused on constructing algorithms, which are step-by-step sets of instructions for a computer. Specifically, her algorithms performed analytic differentiation on algebraic expressions. She wrote these instructions using a language called CDC FORTRAN 63. This work helped demonstrate how computers could process and analyze mathematical data through specific patterns.
After completing her Ph.D., Keller moved to Dubuque, Iowa, to change the landscape of small college education. In 1965, she founded the computer science department at Clarke College. This was a Catholic women's college run by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her department was one of the first computer science programs at a small college. To support her work, the National Science Foundation awarded her a grant. This grant provided $25,000 over two years. The funds were used specifically for instructional equipment for undergraduate students. Keller directed this department for twenty years.
Keller was a vocal advocate for the use of technology in many different areas of life. She believed that computers could increase access to information and improve education. In 1975, she noted that computers had not yet been fully used as interdisciplinary tools. An interdisciplinary tool is something that can be used across many different subjects. She wanted computers to assist in fields ranging from electrical circuits to food service management. She also helped establish the Association of Small Computer Users in Education, known as ASCUE. She was dedicated to encouraging more women to participate in the computing field.
Today, the impact of Mary Kenneth Keller's work is still visible in the academic community. Clarke University, which is now Clarke University, honors her legacy in several ways. The school features the Keller Computer Center and Information Services. This center provides computing and telecommunication support to students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, the university established the Mary Kenneth Keller Computer Science Scholarship. This scholarship helps students pursue their own studies in technology. Keller died on January 10, 1985, at the age of 71, but her contributions continue to support new generations of scientists.
Where will your curiosity go next?
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.