This family snapshot of Albert Einstein is only obliquely related to this Tighsolas website. It was taken by Marion Blair (later Wells) my mother in law, the daughter of Marion Nicholson Blair and Hugh Blair, and Norman and Margaret's granddaughter. The Nicholson women, for all of their strength of character were, well, concerned with their appearance. My mother in law was no different. The story goes that my mother in law and a companion were strolling near this pier when they spotted these two men. "Oh, what messy hair," my mother in law exclaimed, seeing the famous scientist. "Who is that man?" "It is Professor Einstein," her companion stated with reverence.  Thanks to the Internet, I know EXACTLY what is going on in the picture, for there is a 'famous' AP picture of "Einstein at play" with the icon looking through the ropes of a sail boat, taken on this day. Hmm. This picture was set up. My mother in law caught Einstein and the photographer either setting up for the shot or closing down.  Here's a link to the famous picture on CBC photo archive site.

Of course, in 1905, when Marion Nicholson was at McGill Normal School, Einstein published his paradigm shattering paper of the theory of relativity.  In 1912, the era of the Tighsolas letters, he got involved with his cousin Elsa, while still married to his first wife Mileva Meric, a physicist, with whom ( a certain PBS documentary suggests) he collaborated on work, even on the theory of relativity. This Physics Website doesn't believe it.  But just imagine how 'funny' it would be if the Man of the Century, the icon whose name and image is synonymous with the word 'genius', Albert Einstein, had a female collaborator.  Read the info on this website and decide for yourself if the world back then was ready to acknowledge that women were as brainy as men. Relatively speaking, of course :)

I saw the documentary in question and I'm not blown away by the premise, many women of science have had their intellectual property stolen and legacy erased, maybe this is another case. I'm surprised by how passionate Albert was as a young man. Now that really breaks stereotype, brainiac as Don Juan.