Carolina Henriette Mac Gillavry
Encyclopedia
Carolina Henriette Mac Gillavry (Amsterdam
, January 22, 1904 - Amsterdam, May 9, 1993) was a Dutch
chemist
and crystallographer
. She is known for her discoveries on the use of diffraction
in crystallography.
surgeon
, her mother a teacher). In 1921 she began a study in chemistry
at the University of Amsterdam, where she became interested in the (then) new field of quantum mechanics
. In 1932 she finished her studies and became the assistant of chemist A. Smits. She became a friend of J. H. Bijvoet
, who interested her in crystallography which led to her 1937 PhD
thesis
on the subject. She then became assistant of A. E. van Arkel
at Leiden, but Bijvoet asked her to come back to the Amsterdam crystallography laboratory
that same year. Together with Bijvoet she did research in electromagnetic
diffraction
and its use in crystallography. She also did research in inorganic chemistry
.
After World War II
, Mac Gillavry was one of the developers of direct method
s, an innovative calculus
that could be used in crystallography. The method uses the Harker–Kasper inequality, that was first published in 1948 by crystallographers D. Harker and J. S. Kasper. Due to her work on Harker Kasper inequilities, she became an international authority on the subject. In 1948 she worked with R. Pepinsky in Auburn
, Alabama
, for a year. The Dutch company Philips
also got interested in her work on the chemistry of solid
s. In 1950 she became the first woman to be appointed to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
. She became a professor
at the University of Amsterdam in 1957.
In the English speaking world Mac Gillavry became most famous for her book Symmetry aspects of M. C. Escher's periodic drawings on the works of M. C. Escher. The book was instrumental in drawing international attention to the artist as well. Mac Gillavry married the oto-
rhino-
laryngologist
J. H. Nieuwenhuizen in 1968. She retired in 1972.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, January 22, 1904 - Amsterdam, May 9, 1993) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and crystallographer
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
. She is known for her discoveries on the use of diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
in crystallography.
Biography
Mac Gillavry was born the second of six children in an intellectual family (her father was a brainBrain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, her mother a teacher). In 1921 she began a study in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of Amsterdam, where she became interested in the (then) new field of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
. In 1932 she finished her studies and became the assistant of chemist A. Smits. She became a friend of J. H. Bijvoet
Johannes Martin Bijvoet
Johannes Martin Bijvoet was a Dutch chemist and crystallographer at the van 't Hoff Laboratory at the University of Utrecht...
, who interested her in crystallography which led to her 1937 PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
on the subject. She then became assistant of A. E. van Arkel
Anton Eduard van Arkel
Anton Eduard van Arkel, was a Dutch chemist.-See also:*Crystal bar process*Hafnium*Jan Hendrik de Boer*Titanium*Van Arkel-Ketelaar triangle-References:...
at Leiden, but Bijvoet asked her to come back to the Amsterdam crystallography laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
that same year. Together with Bijvoet she did research in electromagnetic
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
and its use in crystallography. She also did research in inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Mac Gillavry was one of the developers of direct method
Direct method
Direct method may refer to*Direct method for learning a foreign language*Direct method as opposed to iterative method...
s, an innovative calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
that could be used in crystallography. The method uses the Harker–Kasper inequality, that was first published in 1948 by crystallographers D. Harker and J. S. Kasper. Due to her work on Harker Kasper inequilities, she became an international authority on the subject. In 1948 she worked with R. Pepinsky in Auburn
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, for a year. The Dutch company Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
also got interested in her work on the chemistry of solid
Solid
Solid is one of the three classical states of matter . It is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to changes of shape or volume. Unlike a liquid, a solid object does not flow to take on the shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire volume available to it like a...
s. In 1950 she became the first woman to be appointed to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
. She became a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Amsterdam in 1957.
In the English speaking world Mac Gillavry became most famous for her book Symmetry aspects of M. C. Escher's periodic drawings on the works of M. C. Escher. The book was instrumental in drawing international attention to the artist as well. Mac Gillavry married the oto-
Otology
Otology is a branch of biomedicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear as well as its diseases, diagnosis and treatment....
rhino-
Rhinology
Rhinology is the study of the nose, including the sinuses.Rhinology concerns itself with medical and surgical diseases of the nasal passages as well as paranasal sinuses...
laryngologist
Laryngology
Laryngology is that branch of medicine which deals with disorders, diseases and injuries of the vocal apparatus, especially the larynx. Common conditions addressed by laryngologists include vocal fold nodules and cysts, laryngeal cancer, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, papillomas,...
J. H. Nieuwenhuizen in 1968. She retired in 1972.
External links
- M.Th. Bruinvels-Bakker, Mac Gillavry, Carolina Henriette (1904-1993), in: Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland (in Dutch).