Born: June 8, 1896 (Broomieknowe, Lasswade, Scotland)
Died: September 14, 1973
Biography:
Eleanor Nora Pairman, also known as Nora Brown, was a Scottish mathematician and a prominent figure in the field of mathematics education for blind students. Born on June 8, 1896, in Broomieknowe, Lasswade, Scotland, she was the youngest of four children of Helen and John Pairman, a solicitor of the Supreme Courts of Scotland. Sadly, her father passed away when she was very young, leaving her mother to raise the family on her own.
Pairman began her education at Lasswade Higher Grade School, where she excelled academically. In 1908, she moved on to George Watson’s Ladies’ College, where she continued to demonstrate her exceptional mathematical abilities. After completing her Scottish Leaving Certificate examinations in 1914, she pursued her passion for mathematics by enrolling at the University of Edinburgh.
At the University of Edinburgh, Pairman’s talent and dedication were recognized, and she graduated in 1917 with first-class honors in mathematics and natural philosophy. Her outstanding performance earned her a three-year Vans Dunlop scholarship, allowing her to pursue further studies at any university of her choice. She chose to become a graduate student at the University of Edinburgh before transferring to Karl Pearson’s laboratory at University College London in 1918.
In 1918, Pairman presented two papers at meetings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, impressing her peers and mentors. Cargill G. Knott, one of her instructors, wrote a letter of recommendation stating, With fitting opportunity, she has every promise of a distinguished and useful career. Encouraged by her achievements, Pairman set her sights on pursuing doctoral studies.
In 1919, Pairman set sail for the United States, arriving in New York and eventually making her way to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study at Radcliffe College. Radcliffe College was an all-women’s college closely associated with the all-male Harvard College. Under the guidance of her advisor, George David Birkhoff, Pairman conducted groundbreaking research and successfully defended her thesis, titled Expansion Theorems for Solution of a Fredholm’s Linear Homogeneous Integral Equation of the Second Kind with Kernel of Special Non-Symmetric Type. In 1922, she became only the third woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics from Radcliffe College.
During her time at Radcliffe, Pairman met her future husband, Bancroft Brown, another graduate student. The couple married in the same year Pairman obtained her doctorate. Following their marriage, they relocated to Hanover, New Hampshire, where Bancroft accepted a teaching position at Dartmouth College. At the time, Dartmouth was an all-male institution, but it occasionally admitted women as graduate students.
While raising a family, Pairman continued to pursue her passion for mathematics. In 1927, she co-authored a paper with Rudolph E. Langer, further cementing her reputation as a respected mathematician. However, it wasn’t until much later in life that Pairman embarked on her most significant contribution to the field of mathematics education.
Around 1950, Pairman turned her attention to teaching mathematics to blind students. She dedicated herself to learning Braille and developing innovative methods to convey mathematical concepts to those with visual impairments. Using her sewing machine and various household items, she created tactile diagrams to assist blind students in understanding geometry and other visual subjects.
Pairman’s pioneering work in teaching math to blind students had a profound impact on the field of mathematics education. Her determination and creativity opened doors for countless visually impaired individuals, proving that mathematics is accessible to all. Her efforts were recognized and celebrated as she became a source of inspiration for future educators and blind individuals pursuing their studies in mathematics.
Eleanor Nora Pairman passed away on September 14, 1973, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the fields of mathematics and education. Her dedication to breaking barriers and ensuring equal access to education for all serves as a beacon of inspiration, reminding us of the profound impact one individual can have on society.