 McConnell @-@ Mills was born Frances Mary McConnell in 1900 in Monument , Colorado . Her father was a physician and a pharmacist , and often took Frances with him when he made house calls to patients . She was sent to live with her aunt and grandfather so that she could attend Colorado Springs High School ; she graduated at the age of 15 and was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Denver . She received a bachelor 's degree from the university in 1918 , aged 17 , and graduated again with a master 's degree in chemistry when she was 19 , making her the university 's youngest graduate with a master 's degree at the time . In 1919 , she began work as a teacher of chemistry , biology , geometry and trigonometry at Englewood High School . 
