Researcher ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-2789-5903
Graduation Year
2022
Date of Submission
4-2022
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Mathematics
Reader 1
Jemma Lorenat
Reader 2
Sarah Cannon
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
2022 Melanie N Williams
Abstract
This paper will demonstrate why Mary Eleanor Spear (1897-1986) is an important figure in the history of statistical visualization. She lead an impressive career working in the federal government as a data analyst before "data analyst" became a thing. She wrote and illustrated two comprehensive textbooks which furthered the art of statistical visualization. Her textbooks cover extensive graphing knowledge still valuable to statisticians and viewers today. Most notable of her works is her development of the box plot. In addition to Spear's career and contributions, this paper will also address the lack of female representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields then and now. There are only very limited sources on Spear's life. Thus, the greater purpose of this paper is to uplift a woman in STEM and to share her story.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Melanie, "Mary Eleanor Spear's Importance to the History of Statistical Visualization" (2022). CMC Senior Theses. 3063.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3063
