The Friends of the University of Sydney Library warmly invite you to a talk by Dr Olivia Murphy. 

Ada Lovelace, née Byron, was famous the moment she was born, as the daughter of Lord Byron. Today, Ada Lovelace is a household name in the field of the history of mathematics, due to her work published as appendix to her translation of a paper by Luigi Menabrea on the topic of her friend Charles Babbage’s ‘Analytical Engine’, an early prototype of what we would now call a computer.

As a figurehead and role model for women in STEM fields, especially as an icon whose image links girls, creativity and mathematics, Ada Lovelace and her story have taken on a crucial role in our society. 

Dr Olivia Murphy, Honorary Associate in English and Vice Principal of the University of Sydney’s Women’s College, will discuss the significance of two commonplace books recently acquired by Rare Books and Special Collections, with strong links to Ada Lovelace. 

These items will be on display on the night, as will a copy of the paper on the Analytical Engine with Ada’s extensive notes.