Gertrude Rand facts for kids

Marie Gertrude Rand Ferree (born October 29, 1886 – died June 30, 1970) was an important American research scientist. She is famous for her detailed work on how we see colors. Her research helped us understand how the eye's retina works. She also created new tools and lights for eye doctors, called ophthalmologists. Gertrude Rand was also key in finding and measuring color blindness.

With her colleagues, LeGrand H. Hardy and M. Catherine Rittler, she developed a special test called the HRR pseudoisochromatic color test. This test helps identify different types of color blindness. While working at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, she invented and patented new lighting devices. She even helped design the lighting for the Holland Tunnel in New York.

In 1912, Gertrude Rand received a special award called the Sarah Berliner Research Fellowship. She was the first woman to become a fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society. This society gave her a Gold Medal in 1963 for her amazing contributions. She was also one of the first women to be a fellow of Optica, a leading society for optics and photonics. In 1959, she was the first woman to receive Optica's Edgar D. Tillyer Medal.

Discovering the World of Color

Early Life and Learning

Gertrude Rand was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 29, 1886. Her father, Lyman Fiske Rand, managed a manufacturing company. She finished high school in Brooklyn in 1904.

She then studied experimental psychology at Cornell University, earning her bachelor's degree in 1908. She continued her studies at Bryn Mawr College, where she earned her master's and doctorate degrees in psychology in 1911. Her PhD research focused on how the retina's sensitivity to color is affected by different factors.

In 1918, Gertrude Rand married Clarence E. Ferree, who had been her research supervisor. She kept her maiden name for her professional work. They worked together on many projects until his death in 1943.

A Career in Vision Science

After getting her doctorate, Rand continued her research at Bryn Mawr College. In 1912, she received the Sarah Berliner Research Fellowship. This fellowship supported her important scientific work. From 1913 to 1927, she was a professor and researcher at Bryn Mawr.

Mapping the Eye's Secrets

At Bryn Mawr, Rand focused on creating ways to measure how sensitive different parts of the retina are to light. She also studied how well these parts could tell colors apart. She and her husband, Ferree, developed a special map of the retina. This map is known as the Ferree-Rand perimeter. It helped doctors understand vision better.

Lighting Up the World

From 1924 to 1927, Rand was part of the National Research Council. She served on a committee that studied lighting for industries. This work helped make workplaces safer and more efficient.

In 1928, she moved to the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. There, she taught and researched ophthalmology and how the eye sees. She and her husband built a special laboratory for vision research. In 1935, she became the Director of this research lab. At Johns Hopkins, Rand worked on many projects, especially those related to industrial lighting.

Helping People See Color

After her husband passed away in 1943, Rand moved to New York City. She became a research associate at Columbia University’s Knapp Foundation. She retired from her work in 1957.

With her colleagues Legrand Hardy and M. Catherine Rittler, she studied color blindness. They created a well-known test called the Hardy-Rand-Rittler (HRR) plate. This test helps doctors detect and assess different types of color blindness.

Awards and Special Honors

Gertrude Rand received many honors for her groundbreaking work. In 1952, she became the first woman to be a fellow of the Illuminating Society of North America. This society later awarded her a gold medal in 1963.

She was also a member of important scientific groups. These included the American Psychological Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Throughout her career, she wrote or co-wrote over one hundred research papers.

In 1959, she made history again by becoming the first woman to receive the Optical Society’s Edgar D. Tillyer Medal. This award recognized her outstanding contributions to vision science. She was also one of only five women in the first group of 115 Optica Fellows in 1959.

Later Years

Gertrude Rand passed away on June 30, 1970. Her work continues to help us understand how we see and how to improve vision for everyone.