A Short History of KYMAA

The national Mathematical Association of America (MAA) was founded in 1915 [MONTHLY Oct 1915, pp. 251-253], an offshoot of the American Mathematical Society(AMS) that emphasized the teaching of collegiate mathematics which was also the purpose of the American Mathematical Monthly. The AMS continued with research as its primary work. The MONTHLY carried section reports up until 1981, which often included meeting dates and locations, the names of officers and, information about the speakers at the meetings. Available electronically, these provide a great deal of information about the development of the MAA.

In Kentucky the Mathematics Section of the Association of Kentucky Colleges and Universities was founded in 1909 and met twice annually. Perhaps during 1915, but certainly no later than 1916 discussions were held to transfer this organization to the new MAA. There was some discussion of combining Kentucky with another state. It is not known which one, but it was perhaps Tennessee. (In 1934 a small committee discussed forming a Kentucky-Tennessee section. Tennessee had been a member of the Southeastern section since its inception in 1922. Kentucky held its meeting at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN in 1935. At that meeting the joint section was discussed, but it is not mentioned again in later meetings and the two states remained where they were in the MAA.)

The first meeting of the KYMAA took place at Berea College. the report of the meeting makes for interesting reading [MONTHLY June 1917 pp. 282-284] We have not repeated the horseback outing in recent years, but with our centennial meeting in Berea in 2017 it may be considered!

The report of the first meeting outlines the activities of the organization since 1909. Emphasis is placed on exams the group had set for high schools to test their students readiness for college mathematics. This type of activity continues today in Kentucky with the KEMPT and KYOTE exams.

It is also quite common throughout the section's history for a report to be given of talks bemoaning the sad state of mathematics preparation of entering college students. In 1936 P.P. Boyd dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky identifies the four factors affecting the preparation difficulties of freshmen : " the school, its systems and standards; the teacher; the textbook; and the subject matter." Plus ça change...

H. R. Phalen, Berea College, served as President of the first meeting. A. R. Rhoten, Georgetown ,was the chairman for the meeting in 1918 at his home institution. H. H. Downing, University of Kentucky was the secretary for 1918-1919. The position became secretary- treasurer in 1920.

Until 1930 the chairman served a singly year and the meeting was held at the chairman's home institution. Beginning in 1935, it became customary for the chairman to serve two years, and the meetings were generally held at locations that were not the chairman's. The secretary-treasurer often served longer, beginning with A. R. Fehn, Centre College, who served from 1925-1939.

Until about 1970 the section generally met every other year at the University of Kentucky. The other meeting were distributes among other colleges in the state, Berea, Centre, Georgetown, University of Louisville, and Transylvania early on. Western State Teachers College, now Western Kentucky University first hosted in 1936, Morehead State Teachers College, now Morehead State University, in 1938, Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College, now Eastern Kentucky University, in 1951, Cumberland College in 1977, Bellarmine College, now University, in 1983, Paducah Community College ( jointly with Western Kentucky University) hosted the meeting at Pennyrile State Park in 1989, and Northern Kentucky University (Kentucky's youngest university!) in 1991. A list of meeting dates and sites will be on the Kentucky section history website.

The meetings have featured well known national speakers as well as ample presentations from section members. In recent years the number of student presentations, both undergraduate and graduate, as well as student attendance at the section meetings, has grown rapidly. The student pizza party is always a big event.

Section officers have been drawn from almost all of the colleges, universities and community colleges in the Commonwealth. A list will appear on Kentucky section history website.

It is notable that the first woman to be an officer was Elizabeth LeStourgeon, University of Kentucky, secretary-treasurer in 1922 and chairman in 923. She remained active in the section for many years. In 1945, Aughtum Howard, Kentucky Wesleyan College, became chairman. Many more women followed in leadership positions. More can be found in the article, "Women in the Kentucky section." to appear on the website.

Until 1948 the national MAA was governed by a board of Regional Governors. In 1948 this was replaced by a board of Section Governors. M. C. Brown, University of Kentucky, served 1948-50. Aughtum Howard was the second Governor for Kentucky 1951-1953.

The MAA established the Distinguished Service Award in the late 80's. The first recipient from Kentucky was Aughtum Howard in 1988.