Antonia Maury

Early Life and Background

Antonia Maury was born on March 21, 1866, in Cold Spring, New York, into a family with an illustrious scientific heritage. Her grandfather, John William Draper, was a noted scientist, and her father, Reverend Mytton Maury, was a natural science teacher. Antonia was inspired by her aunt, Mary Anna Draper, an astrophotographer. This familial influence undoubtedly contributed to her future scientific pursuits. Maury attended Vassar College, where she studied under Maria Mitchell, America's first professional female astronomer. Graduating with honors in 1887, Maury furthered her passion for astronomy.

Career Beginnings and Development

After graduation, Antonia Maury joined the Harvard College Observatory under the direction of Edward Charles Pickering. There, she worked as one of the 'Harvard Computers' — women who performed detailed stellar analysis. Her meticulous work on the spectral characteristics of stars was critical, devising a stellar classification system that introduced the concept of