Margaret K. Butler

Margaret Kampschaefer Butler (March 27, 1924 – March 8, 2013) was a mathematician who participated in creating and updating computer software. During the early 1950s, Butler contributed to the development of early computers. Butler was the first female fellow at the American Nuclear Society and director of the National Energy Software Center at Argonne. Butler held leadership positions within multiple scientific organizations and women's groups. She was the creator and director of the National Energy Software Center. Here, Butler operated an exchange for the editing of computer programs in regards to nuclear power and developed early principles for computer technology.

Early life and education Margaret Kampschaefer was born on March 27, 1924, in Evansville, Indiana, the middle child of three daughters born to Lou Etta and Otto Kampschaefer. Her father was a Mechanical Engineer graduate of Purdue University and her mother was a business school graduate who had worked as a bookkeeper before the children were born, remaining active in a business women's club, and sometimes covered club members work while they took holidays. The children were brought up with the expectation that they would go to college.

Career Margaret Kampschaefer began her career in 1944 working as a statistician at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While she worked there, she also taught math at the United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School and took graduate courses related to sampling theory. In 1949, she worked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Minnesota but returned to Argonne National Laboratory in 1951. When Butler rose in the ranks at Argonne, she made sure to hire women and recommend them for promotions.

Personal life In 1951 Margaret Kampschaefer married Jim Butler, a mathematician she met through work. They had a son Jay in 1954 and Butler later recalled that “when I was pregnant, I thought I would announce the fact by wearing a maternity outfit to work. Much to my astonishment, Dr. Chu managed to overlook the fact, saying that it was wise of me to find an outfit designed to keep me free of chalk dust from the office chalkboard”. Her request for maternity leave caused consternation as the laboratory had no such policy and it had been assumed Butler would resign. She was eventually granted leave without pay after being asked to have a physical in Health Services. She was amused by and kept the letter issued by the doctor which stated "We are able to report that the examinations conducted revealed … a ‘Condition of which you are aware'".