Mathematics instruction at Vassar College began with Priscilla Braislin, who joined the faculty in 1865. Serving during a transformative era for the discipline, she emerged as the institution's first female professor. Her career path highlights the limited academic pathways available to women in the United States during the nineteenth century, reflecting broader shifts in the formalization of collegiate education.
Academic Appointment
Braislin arrived at Vassar shortly after its establishment, joining the Department of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Chemistry. Her role initially involved general instruction within these combined sciences. By 1874, the college restructured its academic organization, leading to the creation of a dedicated Department of Mathematics. Braislin was appointed as the department chair, marking a significant transition toward specialized faculty roles at the institution.
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The year 1875 marked her formal election as a professor of mathematics. This promotion distinguished her as the first female professor at Vassar College. Furthermore, her appointment placed her among the earliest female mathematics professors in the United States, following Susan Jane Cunningham, who began her professorship at Swarthmore College in 1871. This status placed her at the forefront of female representation in higher-level mathematical instruction.
Departure and Legacy
Braislin concluded her tenure at Vassar in 1887. She resigned from her academic duties to marry Timothy Merrick, an entrepreneur based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Her death followed in 1888 due to heart disease. The following year, her contributions to education were commemorated through the founding of the Priscilla Braislin School for Girls in Bordentown, New Jersey, which was administered by her sisters, Alice G. Braislin and Mary Braislin Cooke.
Fast facts
- Born: 1838, Burlington City
- Died: 1888, Holyoke
- Citizenship: United States
- Primary Employer: Vassar College
- Brother: Edward Braislin (1846–1915)
- Spouse: Timothy Merrick
Questions readers ask
What subjects did she teach at Vassar?
She initially taught within the combined Department of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Chemistry before heading the independent Department of Mathematics.
Did she hold any other academic positions?
No, Vassar College is the only employer recorded in her academic career.
Achievements
- Held posts at Vassar College
