Elbert Frank Cox
He shattered an academic color barrier, becoming the first African American to earn a PhD in mathematics and paving the way for generations of Black scholars.
1895–1969 (age 74)·American mathematician·Birthday: December 5·The Lost Generation
Biography
Elbert Frank Cox’s journey began in a segregated America, where his mathematical talent shone early. After serving in World War I, he pursued his passion with quiet determination, enrolling at Cornell University. In 1925, his dissertation on polynomial solutions broke a profound racial ceiling, granting him a doctorate and a permanent place in history. Cox spent the bulk of his career teaching at historically Black colleges, most notably Howard University, where he built a rigorous mathematics department from the ground up. His legacy is not found in a single theorem but in the trajectory he created; his very presence in the academy served as a powerful rebuttal to prejudice, inspiring students who would themselves become distinguished mathematicians and educators.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Elbert was born in 1895, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elbert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1895
Elbert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1895Born
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1900Started school
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1908Became a teenager
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Could drive
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could vote
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Turned 21
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 30
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 40
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 50
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 60
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 70
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1969Died at 74
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
Key Achievements
- Earned a PhD in mathematics from Cornell University in 1925, becoming the first African American to do so.
- Authored a foundational dissertation on the properties and classifications of polynomial solutions.
- Chaired and developed the mathematics department at Howard University, shaping it into a leading program.
- Mentored a generation of Black mathematicians, including his son and other notable academics.
Did You Know?
His PhD was granted in 1925, but he was not listed in official university publications until 1929.
He taught at West Virginia State College and Howard University over his long career.
The Elbert F. Cox Scholarship Fund was established at Howard to support mathematics students.
He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
“My work on polynomial solutions opened a door for others to follow.”
