# Margaret R. Fox

> American electronics engineer

**Wikidata**: [Q16081635](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16081635)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_R._Fox)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/margaret-r-fox

## Summary
Margaret R. Fox was an American electronics engineer and computer scientist. She is best known for her career at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and her affiliation with the early computing community through the American Federation of Information Processing Societies. Her professional work helped shape the field of computer science during its formative years.

## Biography
*   **Born:** May 19, 1916
*   **Died:** August 27, 2006 in Argyle
*   **Nationality:** United States
*   **Education:** University of Wisconsin–Madison (concluded 1940)
*   **Known for:** Electronics engineering and computer science
*   **Employer(s):** National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
*   **Field(s):** Computer Science, Engineering
*   **Archives:** Charles Babbage Institute

## Contributions
Margaret R. Fox served as an electronics engineer and computer scientist for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a prominent measurement standards laboratory in the United States. Her career at NIST placed her at the intersection of engineering and the emerging discipline of computer science. She played a role in the professionalization of the field through her membership in the American Federation of Information Processing Societies, a key organization in the history of computing.

Fox's career spanned a transformative period in technology. By working at NIST, she contributed to the federal government's efforts in establishing measurement and technological standards critical to the industrial and service sectors. Her work is preserved for posterity at the Charles Babbage Institute, an institution dedicated to the history of information technology. This archival collection serves as a resource for understanding the contributions of early government computer scientists.

## FAQs

### Q: What was Margaret R. Fox's profession?
A: Margaret R. Fox was an electronics engineer and computer scientist. She was employed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

### Q: Where was Margaret R. Fox educated?
A: Margaret R. Fox attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she completed her studies in 1940.

### Q: Where are Margaret R. Fox's professional papers archived?
A: Her professional papers and records are archived at the Charles Babbage Institute.

## Why They Matter
Margaret R. Fox matters as a representative of the early foundational workforce in American computer science and electronics engineering. Working within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), her career reflects the critical role government laboratories played in the development of computing standards and technology in the 20th century. Her involvement with the American Federation of Information Processing Societies indicates her active participation in the structuring and communication of computer science as a distinct discipline. By bridging electronics engineering with computer science, she contributed to the technical infrastructure that supported the growth of the digital industry. The preservation of her work at the Charles Babbage Institute highlights her status as a figure of historical significance in the computing timeline.

## Notable For
*   **Career at NIST:** Served as an engineer and computer scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a major U.S. measurement standards laboratory.
*   **Professional Affiliation:** Member of the American Federation of Information Processing Societies.
*   **Historical Archival:** Her professional history is preserved at the Charles Babbage Institute.
*   **Academic Background:** Educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (class of 1940).

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Margaret R. Fox was born on May 19, 1916. She held United States citizenship. She pursued higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, completing her tenure there in 1940.

### Career and Government Service
Fox dedicated her professional life to the fields of engineering and computer science. Her primary employer was the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a physical sciences laboratory and non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. During her tenure, NIST (then known by a different name prior to 1988, though the source lists the entity as NIST) was heavily involved in measurement standards for the industrial and service sectors. Fox worked specifically as an electronics engineer and computer scientist within this organization.

### Professional Affiliations
Fox was a member of the American Federation of Information Processing Societies (AFIPS). This organization was a pivotal body in the history of computing, representing various professional societies in the field. Her membership signifies her standing in the professional computing community.

### Later Life and Legacy
Margaret R. Fox passed away on August 27, 2006, in Argyle. She was laid to rest at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery. Her contributions and career documentation are maintained at the Charles Babbage Institute, ensuring her role in the history of computing is recorded for future research. She also holds a DBLP author ID (174/0067), indicating a record of publications in the computer science field.

## References

1. [Source](http://archives.lib.umn.edu/repositories/3/resources/42)
2. Find a Grave