Nora Campbell Chaffin was born in Cyprus Creek, North Carolina in 1900. She received her A.B.in 1924 from Trinity College in Durham, N.C. and her Ph.D. from Duke University. She completed post-graduatework at Columbia University. She was awarded Phi Beta Kappa.

She was on the history faculty at Duke University from 1935 - 1944. She came to Vanderbilt University in 1944 as the Dean of Women and served there until her retirement in 1966. She also taught history at Vanderbilt, as an Assistant Professor 1944-1946; Associate Professor 1946 - 1950; Professor 1950 - 1966. She was named Dean Emeritus of Women at the time of her retirement. She died on February 5, 1981 at the age of 81. In 1950 she published Trinity College, 1832-1892: the Beginnings of Duke University. Her papers are at Duke University and at Vanderbilt.

Chaffin Place, an undergraduate residential facility on the Vanderbilt Campus, was completed in 1974 and named in honor of Dean Chaffin.