Born: 1914 (Memphis, Tennessee)
Died: 1979
Biography:
Marjorie Lee Browne (September 9, 1914 – October 19, 1979) was a remarkable mathematician and educator who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. As one of the first African-American women to receive a PhD in mathematics, she paved the way for future generations of minority mathematicians.
Marjorie Lee Browne was born on September 9, 1914, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mary Taylor Lee and Lawrence Johnson Lee. Her father, a railway postal clerk, remarried shortly after her mother’s death when Browne was almost two years old. It was her father and stepmother, Lottie, a school teacher, who recognized and nurtured Browne’s extraordinary intellectual abilities. Encouraged by her family, Browne embraced her love for learning and pursued her studies with great determination.
Browne attended LeMoyne High School, a private Methodist school that was established after the Civil War. During her time there, she not only excelled academically but also displayed exceptional talent in sports. In 1929, she became the champion of the Memphis City Women’s Tennis Singles Championship, showcasing her versatility and excellence. Two years later, Browne graduated from LeMoyne High School, marking the beginning of her journey into higher education.
In 1935, Browne enrolled at Harvard University, where she majored in mathematics. Despite encountering numerous challenges as an African-American woman in a predominantly white institution, Browne persevered, and in 1935, she graduated cum laude. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she briefly taught high school and college, including at Gilbert Academy in New Orleans.
With a desire to further her education and pursue her passion for mathematics, Browne applied to the University of Michigan’s graduate program in mathematics. Unlike many other educational institutions at the time, Michigan accepted African-American students. While working full-time at Wiley College in Texas, Browne attended Michigan during the summers, determined to achieve her academic goals. Her hard work and dedication paid off when she received a teaching fellowship at Michigan and completed her dissertation in 1949. Her groundbreaking research, titled Studies of One Parameter Subgroups of Certain Topological and Matrix Groups, was supervised by George Yuri Rainich. Browne, along with Evelyn Boyd Granville, became one of the first African-American women in the United States to earn a doctorate in mathematics. Euphemia Haynes had the distinction of being the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics in 1943.
Following the completion of her doctorate, Browne faced challenges in securing a teaching position at a research institution. However, this setback did not deter her dedication to mathematics education. Instead, Browne actively engaged with secondary school mathematics teachers, providing instruction in modern math and emphasizing the importance of math education for underrepresented minorities and women.
In 1951, Browne joined the faculty at North Carolina College, which is now known as North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Throughout her 30-year tenure at NCCU, she made significant contributions as a teacher, researcher, and department head. Browne’s impact extended beyond the classroom, as she served as the principal investigator, coordinator of the mathematics section, and lecturer for the Summer Institute for Secondary School Science and Mathematics Teachers. Her dedication to advancing mathematics education and promoting diversity in the field was unwavering.
Tragically, Marjorie Lee Browne’s life was cut short by a heart attack on October 19, 1979. However, her legacy as a pioneer in mathematics and champion for minority representation in STEM fields lives on. Browne’s accomplishments and determination continue to inspire and empower future generations of mathematicians and educators.