Marjorie Williams (1900–1983) was an American astronomer who worked for many years as a professor at Smith College. Her research involved the observation of variable stars, and she served as president of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. She also wrote about a theory of Johannes Kepler according to which the Star of Bethlehem was a triple planetary conjunction.[1]

Early life and education

Williams was born on October 12, 1900, in Marshalltown, Iowa, where her father was a Quaker minister. After graduating from Guilford College, a Quaker college in North Carolina, she continued for graduate study at Smith College and the University of Michigan, where she earned a master's degree and doctorate respectively.[1]

Academic career

She joined the Smith College faculty in 1925 as an instructor,[1] progressing through the faculty ranks over 28 years at Smith as assistant, associate, and full professor, chairman of the astronomy department, and director of the college's astronomical observatory.[2] While still an assistant, she also became acting head of astronomy at Amherst College, and the only women on the Amherst College faculty.[1] In summers, she performed astronomical research at the Maria Mitchell Observatory in Nantucket.[3] She was president of the American Association of Variable Star Observers for the 1947–1948 term.[4]

Williams retired from Smith in 1953.[1] In 1959, she joined the National Science Foundation as Assistant Program Director for Astronomy.[3]

Later life and service

While still at Smith, Williams became active in Quaker efforts at war relief in Europe, through the American Friends Service Committee.[1] In her retirement, she was active in the organization of the Washington, DC meeting of the Society of Friends. She also headed a retirement home and returned to Guilford to work as a dormitory resident and direct the student union.[2]

She died on December 28, 1983.[2]

Recognition

Williams was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1932.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Xavier, Marjorie Pickett (April 1, 2001), "Looking at the Stars: Two Quaker Women Astronomers", Friends Journal, retrieved 2022-10-10
  2. 1 2 3 Marjorie Williams, 10-12-1900 to 12-28-1983 (PDF), Friends Meeting of Washington DC, retrieved 2022-10-10
  3. 1 2 "National Science Foundation looks at astronomy and allied sciences" (PDF), Star Dust, National Capital Astronomers, 21 (10): 1, June 1964, retrieved 2022-10-10
  4. ↑ Officers of the AAVSO since 1911, American Association of Variable Star Observers, retrieved 2022-10-10
  5. ↑ Historic fellows, American Association for the Advancement of Science, retrieved 2022-10-10
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