Harriet F. Montague

Professor of mathematics

Capen, Samuel Paul, 1878-1956

University of Buffalo, 1920-1930

Women as professionals

National Science Foundation Summer Institute

University of Buffalo. Department of Mathematics--History

Furnas, C.C. (Clifford Cook), 1900-1969

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Presbyterian Church of Western New York

Archives has photographs related to this interview.

Overview: Harriet Montague was a professor mathematics at the University of Buffalo and the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1929-1973. She is also an alumna of the University, having graduated in 1927 with a bachelor's degree, and in 1929 with a masters. This interview was conducted in two sessions. The first session begins with an account of Dr. Montague's experiences as a student at the University, and of her early years as a professor. During this part of the interview Dr. Montague discusses her decision to pursue mathematics as a career and talks about several courses which she developed as a member of the Faculty. She also talks about social activities at the University and her memories of Chancellor Capen. The first session continues with a discussion of varlous later activities, including Dr. Montague's directorship of the National Science Foundation Summer Institute from 1957-1970, her association with the Presbyterian Church in western New York, and her membership in the Buffalo Zoological Society. In the second session of this interview, Dr. Montague discusses the administration of the University of Buffalo in greater detail, tracing the tenures of the various chancellors and commenting on the changes which each effected in the University. She also elaborates on her own teaching career and discusses her memories of several other University of Buffalo faculty members.

Interviewer's Observations: Dr. Montague was quite receptive to participation in the Oral History project. Before recording she was quite concerned with establishing a rapport with the interviewer and saw to it that we were comfortably satiated with coffee and cake. Dr. Montague is a short woman with dark-gray hair that sits neatlystyled atop her head. She appears to be in good health, keeps very active and expressed no ailments. She shares her suburban home with a long-time friend, Dr. Mabel Montgomery, a mathematics professor at Buffalo State College. The home is spacious and though the furniture is old and stiff-like there is an airy brightness about the house. Perhaps this atmosphere is further created by the array of play-toys scattered about the huge Oriental living room rug. They belong to a tremendously fat cat by the name of Montey; whose name is derived from Montague and Montgomery in combination. During the interview Montey sipped from my coffee cup, crawled into a large paper bag or chose to observe us from afar. At one point in the interview Dr. Montague brought out a wooden box filled with newspaper clippings, documents, pictures and other materials that she has accumulated over the years. She read from a few of the articles during the interview. Upon completion of side 1 of the tape the refrigerator man came with a new refrigerator to be installed so we've decided to continue with a second interview at a later date.

1978-02-21

1978-03-14

Sound recording

Interviews

Sound

OH-27

2/27/2013

UA014-montague-harriet.mp3

2 sound cassettes

Peterzell, Jenny

Montague, Harriet F., 1905-