Sep 8, 2024
Elbert Frank Cox (1895–1969) was a pioneering American mathematician, best known for being the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Cox displayed exceptional talent in mathematics from a young age. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Indiana University, where he graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1917. After serving in World War I, Cox taught high school before continuing his education at Cornell University, where he earned his Ph.D. in mathematics in 1925.