Mary Whitney

Mary Watson Whitney (1847-1921)
Credit: Vassar College

Mary Whitney was born in September 1847 in Waltham, Massachusetts. When Vassar College opened in 1865, Whitney enrolled and quickly became one of its best students. She was one of Maria Mitchell's first students in astronomy and would eventually succeed her as chair of Vassar College's astronomy department and as director of the Vassar College Observatory. Under Mitchell's guidance, Whitney thrived and was incredibly devoted to her studies, as she, along with five of her peers (a group called the Hexagon) believed that the future of higher education for women rested on their shoulders.

In 1889, Mitchell handed over the torch as head of the astronomy department to Whitney. Noting that Mitchell had not published much of her work, Whitney focused her efforts on encouraging the publishing of research projects. In this regard, Whitney's classes and research focused on a variety of astronomical topics including double stars, variable stars, asteroids, comets, and the precise measurement of photographic plates. By the end of Whitney's tenure at Vassar College, Vassar College Observatory had published 102 articles and publications under her guidance.

As with Mitchell, Whitney felt a compelling need to advance both the science of astronomy and the rights of women. She used her connections at other colleges and observatories to secure positions for her students (see Caroline Furness). She also encouraged her students outside of class, holding Dome Parties in the observatory as Mitchell once had. The devotion to her teaching and research left a resounding impression on those she taught, inspiring many to pursue a career in astronomy despite the prejudice against the progress of women existing at the time.