In 1883, Marie graduated from high school at the top of her class. She longed to pursue a career in science, but women in Poland were denied access to higher education.
Undeterred, Marie created an agreement with her sister, Bronia, so both of them could attend university in Paris. She proposed that they take turns funding each other's education to lessen its financial burden. Marie’s clever solution for surmounting these barriers set the stage for her future accomplishments.
["Marie Curie's secondary school diploma, 1883." Marie Curie, NobelPrize.org.]
Marie arrived in Paris to study physics at the Sorbonne University in 1891. She devoted her days and nights to studying and often neglected her health.
“Undistracted by any outside occupation, I was entirely absorbed in the joy of learning and understanding.”
~ Marie Curie
[Pierre Curie, 1923]
["Marie Curie." Gale Science Online Collection, 2018.]
Many of Marie's professors and peers were condescending, but that just fueled her hard work. Although she dreaded the final examination, Marie ranked first in her class, earning her physics degree in 1893.
This was a revolutionary step for women in science, and Marie received a scholarship to continue her education. In 1894, she graduated from the Sorbonne again, this time with a mathematics degree.
“I even had the satisfaction of graduating in first rank as 'licenciee es sciences physiques' in 1893, and in second rank as 'licenciee es sciences mathematiques' in 1894.”
~ Marie Curie
[Pierre Curie, 1923]
“For myself, I shall always consider one of the best memories of my life that period of solitary years exclusively devoted to the studies, finally within my reach, for which I had waited for so long.”
~ Marie Curie
[Pierre Curie, 1923]
Meanwhile, word about Marie’s intelligence had spread, and she was hired to research steel’s magnetic properties.
During Marie’s search for a lab, she met with French physicist Pierre Curie. The two had an instant camaraderie and shared much in common. This sparked a remarkable partnership which would unveil some of science’s unexplored mysteries.
["Pierre Curie." Gale Science Online Collection, 2004.]
“I noticed the grave and gentle expression of his face, as well as a certain abandon in his attitude, suggesting the dreamer absorbed in his reflection. He showed me a simple cordiality and seemed to me very sympathetic. [...] Our work drew us closer and closer, until we were both convinced that neither of us could find a better life companion.”
~ Marie Curie
[Pierre Curie, 1923]
["A Honeymoon Glimpse of Marie and Pierre Curie." Gale World History Online Collection, 2012.]
["The wedding photo of Marie and Pierre Curie, 26 July 1895." Marie Curie, NobelPrize.org.]
["Marie and Pierre Curie with their daughter Irene in the garden of the house on Boulevard Kellermann, 1908." Marie Curie, NobelPrize.org.]
After much cajoling, Marie accepted Pierre's proposal. In 1895, the couple got married in a simple ceremony with a few family members present. For their honeymoon, they went cycling in northwestern France for several days.
Pierre’s father moved in to help take care of Marie and Pierre’s first daughter, Irene, in 1897.
With this extra assistance, Marie decided to apply for a doctorate in physics, something no woman had done before.
For her thesis, Marie settled upon researching scientific rays that Wilhelm Roentgen (with X-rays) and Henri Becquerel (with uranium) had recently discovered.
This unknown phenomenon intrigued Marie and presented a perfect opportunity for her to compose a compelling thesis.
[Benjamin Harrow, The New York Times, 1924.]
[Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. NobelPrize.org.]
[An 1896 X-ray by Wilhelm Roentgen. The New York Times, 2009.]
“My husband and I were much excited by this new phenomenon, and I resolved to undertake the study of it.”
~ Marie Curie
[Pierre Curie, 1923]