By: Ellie Kaverman, Bicentennial Graduate Assistant
History is full of unknown and unremembered stories. Once such story is that of Ingeborg Schmidt, an early female professor in the IU School of Optometry.
Early Life and Education
Ingeborg Schmidt was born on December 26, 1899 near Tartu, Estonia. After she earned her medical degree from the University of Tartu in 1925, Schmidt moved to Germany to pursue a doctorate in medicine at the University of Tubingen. She wrote her dissertation on “Zum binocularen Farbensehen,” or binocular color vision, and earned her doctorate in 1927.[1] Later, in 1935 and 1937 respectively, Schmidt earned her licenses in medical technology and medical practice.
Schmidt first started working at the University of Berlin in 1927. She worked in the university’s Physiological Institute, where she conducted research on electrophysiology, physiological optics, and comparative physiology.[2] This role resulted in Schmidt publishing her first ten papers on color vision.[3]
In 1935, Schmidt worked at the Institute for Aviation Medicine in Berlin. During her time at the institute, she held many roles. As a research scientist, she researched color vision and night vision. She also served as librarian for the institute librarian and editor of scientific periodicals. Furthermore, she supervised medical students and their graduate research.[4]
Following the end of World War II, Schmidt worked at an eye hospital in Gottingen, Germany and then later as a scientist at the Allied Air Forces Aeromedical Center in Heidelberg, Germany.
Schmidt stayed in Germany until 1947, when she earned a five-year contract with the US Air Force and immigrated to the United States. She worked as a scientist at the US Air Force School of Aviation Medicine in Randolph Field, TX.[5]
While working there, she continued her research on color vision and other aspects of visual science. During her employment at the school, Schmidt published over 40 papers, received credit for four inventions, and mastered her fourth language, English.[6] Coinciding with learning her fourth language, Schmidt applied for her fourth citizenship: US citizenship.
Coming to Indiana University
When her five-year contract with the US Air Force ended in 1952, Schmidt moved to New York City. She continued her research at the Knapp Memorial Foundation, at Columbia University.[7] Schmidt stayed in New York for only two years before she moved to Bloomington, IN to begin a new career as a professor in the Indiana University School of Optometry in 1954.
The Indiana University School of Optometry was relatively new, having been established in 1951. Schmidt came to the school as an assistant professor. She developed and taught sensory physiological optics and ocular pathology courses. Schmidt was active in educating the first class of optometry students.
Schmidt advanced through the ranks quickly. Within five years of coming to IU, she was promoted to professor and acquired an international reputation in the field.[8] Because of the launch of space race in the early 1950s, interest in the new field of astronautics and human space travel increased.
Schmidt contributed to astronautics through her research in the visual sciences. She consulted with astronomers on potential optical illusions through the lens of a telescope.[9]
Because she commented on how vision related to topics in astronomy, many newspaper articles of the time cited her as an expert source on the topic. A newspaper article from 1957 cited Schmidt as saying that expectations for the future launch of an artificial satellite [Explorer 1] should be lowered as the man-made satellite would be “at best… only as bright as the fainter stars, and will be in view for very short periods.”[10]
A later article from 1970 quoted Schmidt a source warning against looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse.[11] Schmidt served as a frequent source in newspaper articles on a range of subjects outside of astronautics throughout her time as an Indiana University professor. Newspaper articles frequently cited her in articles on the dangers of driving at night, color blindness, and more.[12]
In 1955, Schmidt discovered a diagnostic sign for detecting the genetic manifestation in carriers of color blindness–essentially a way to tell when someone is color blind. This detection method became known as the “Schmidt’s Sign.” [12]
During her time at Indiana University, Schmidt became known as a dedicated faculty member who was generous in giving her time to students, colleagues, and the community. She was known in the department as a reference point for translating books and materials, as well as providing a sound analysis of work.[13]
Schmidt taught students and interacted with the Bloomington community through her work at the Indiana University Optometry Clinic. At the clinic she was one of several IU Optometry faculty members who saw patients.[14] Schmidt also served as the instructor for several special courses for practicing optometrists in the Bloomington community.[15]
Schmidt’s Research and Legacy
Schmidt was responsible for many inventions and advances in the visual science field, which spanned across a broad array of topics including night vision, astronautics, and most famously, color blindness. She contributed enormously to the field of visual science–by the end of her career, she had written nearly 80 publications.
Because Schmidt was well-known in the visual science field due to her ongoing work in the field that spanned across decades, this lead to some people referring to Schmidt as the “first lady of visual science.”
The American Journal of Optometry published Schmidt’s research on night vision and driving which showed that decreased visibility leads to errors in judgement in drivers, or “night blindness.” Further, she found that the phenomenon resulted from a deficiency in the eye retina rods which control night vision.[16]
With this research, Schmidt pushed for mandatory regular testing of night vision for drivers. Alongside her Indiana University colleagues in the optometry clinic, Schmidt worked to help patients with low vision improve their sight. The clinic had a 70% rate of clients who had their vision improved.[17]
Schmidt retired as professor emeritus from Indiana University in 1970, after more than 15 years of work at the School of Optometry. Because of her work and dedication, she helped build the program into what it is today.
Schmidt remained active in her retirement. She continued to research, give presentations, and participate in the visual science field, particularly in the color vision research. She served as the principle abstracter for the International Color Vision Society’s newsletter, the Daltoniana.[18] She presented her last paper at a 1979 London symposium on color vision which appeared as a chapter in the 1980 book Color Vision Deficiencies.[19]
Throughout her life Schmidt received numerous awards. In 1970, she received the Distinguished Service Award of the Indiana Optometric Association.
Schmidt also became an Emeritus Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry In 1982, the IU School of Optometry honored Schmidt with its Foley House Basement Door Key Award, an honor awarded annually to the most dedicated alumni of the program. It is named after the former location of the Optometry Clinic, the Foley House the location where Schmidt worked at while at IU.[20]
Schmidt passed away in 1988. The contributions she made during her life bettered the world. Her scientific contributions to the field of visual science were crucial to the understanding of vision and her contributions to Indiana University’s School of Optometry helped build the program and create professionals who have continued her legacy.
Bibliography
- “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.” Bloomington Faculty Council. September 19, 1989. http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/bfc/view?docId=B05-1990
- Capshew, Jim. “Biographical information on Ingeborg Schmidt.” Indiana University Historian. July 19, 2019.
- “Green Area on Mars An Optical Illusion.” Associated Press. Logansport Pharos-Tribune. December 6, 1959.
- “NASA Plans An Intense Study of Sun Eclipse Next Saturday.” The Daily Herald, page 2. March 2, 1970.
- “IU Specialists Help Many People with Low Vision.” The Bedford Daily Times Mail, page 9. December 28, 1969.
- Jameson, Dorothea & L.M. Hurvich. “Visual Psychophysics.” Springer Science & Business Media, Dec 6, 2012.
- “Hazard of Driving is Living in Past.” The Daily Reporter, page four. January 6, 1966.
- “Schmidt Faculty Bio Sheet.” Indiana University Archives.
- “Says Man-Made Satellite Won’t Be Spectacular.” The Times, page 3. May 27, 1957.
- “Traffic Fatalities Increase at Sundown” The Herald(Jasper, Indiana), 9 Aug 1961, Page 5
Notes
[1] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[2] Capshew, Jim.
[3] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[4] Ibid.
[5] “Schmidt Faculty Bio Sheet.”
[6] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[7] “Schmidt Faculty Bio Sheet.”
[8] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[9] “Green Area on Mars An Optical Illusion.”
[10] “Says Man-Made Satellite Won’t Be Spectacular.”
[11] “NASA Plans An Intense Study of Sun Eclipse Next Saturday.”
[12] Jameson, Dorothea & L.M. Hurvich.
[13] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[14] “IU Specialists Help Many People with Low Vision.”
[15] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[16] “Traffic Fatalities Increase at Sundown”
[17] “IU Specialists Help Many People with Low Vision.”
[18] “Memorial Resolution for Professor Emeritus Ingeborg Schmidt.”
[19] Ibid.
[20] Capshew, Jim.