Gittel Kaimowitz, who later gained prominence as the mathematician Gertrude Blanch, arrived in the United States from Kolno in 1907. After working clerical jobs for fourteen years, she pursued higher education, ultimately earning a doctorate from Cornell University in 1935 and defining standards for numerical analysis that persisted for decades within government and academic research organizations.
Academic Formation and Early Career
Born on February 2, 1897, Blanch spent her youth in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Eastern District High School in 1914. Following her mother's death in 1927, she began evening studies at New York University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in mathematics in 1932. She joined the Phi Beta Kappa Society before completing her Ph.D. at Cornell University in 1935 with a thesis on algebraic geometry.
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In 1938, Blanch became the mathematical director and Chair of the Planning Committee for the Mathematical Tables Project. She designed algorithms and error-checking protocols for 450 human computers. During World War II, this group provided essential calculations for the Office of Scientific Research and Development, the Manhattan Project, and naval navigation systems. The project eventually transitioned into the National Bureau of Standards.
Government Service and Technical Contributions
Following the war, Blanch faced professional challenges due to federal investigations regarding her political affiliations, which were fully resolved by 1952. She subsequently held positions at the Institute for Numerical Analysis at UCLA and ElectroData Corporation. In 1954, she joined the Aerospace Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. There, she focused on turbulence and supersonic flight until 1967.
Professional Recognition
Blanch authored over 30 articles covering functional approximation and Mathieu functions. Her service to the United States government earned her the Air Force award for exceptional service in 1963 and the Federal Woman's Award in 1964. She was a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and served as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Kolno
- Died: 1996, San Diego
- Citizenship: United States
- Doctorate: Cornell University, 1935
- Major Employer: Mathematical Tables Project (1938-1948)
- Air Force Service: 1954-1967
- Federal Woman's Award: 1964
Questions readers ask
What was the primary function of the Mathematical Tables Project?
It provided high-precision mathematical function calculations for military, scientific, and government research using teams of human computers governed by Blanch's algorithms.
Did Gertrude Blanch contribute to the Manhattan Project?
Yes, her group at the Mathematical Tables Project performed calculations for the Manhattan Project and other wartime initiatives.
Achievements
- Held posts at Hunter College, Mathematical Tables Project and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
