May was a prime mover behind the International Commission on the History of Mathematics, and was the first editor of its journal Historia Mathematica.

[1] At the University of California, Kenneth May played was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and studied under Griffith C. Evans.

In 1937 May was granted a master's degree and was selected by the Institute of Current World Affairs for foreign study.

Returning to California, May became a teaching assistant, assigned to mathematics of finance and calculus with analytic geometry.

In World War II May attempted to join up, but until Ruth filed for divorce in June 1942, he could not be drafted.

May is remembered for his Bibliography and Research Manual of the History of Mathematics (1973) published by University of Toronto Press.

He managed the compilation of an index for the first 80 volumes of American Mathematical Monthly and wrote numerous book reviews.