the
black women
in science
network

Name Alice Augusta Ball Life July 1892 - December 1916 Nationality African-American Family Ball was 1 of 4 children to James Presley and Laura Ball. Education Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry BSc (Hons), University of Washington Degree in Pharmacy, University of Washington Scientific career After graduating Ball worked on the molecule for Piper methysticum (kava) and investigated its active principle. Dr Harry T Hollmann reached out to Ball to help him isolate the active ch

Name Jane Cooke Wright Life November 1919 - February 2013 Nationality American Family Wright's parents, Louis and Corrine, were both academic. Corrine was a public school teacher and Louis was a physician and activist against the racial injustices in the medical field. In 1947, Jane Wright married David D. Jones Jr who later had two daughters. Education 1942 Degree in Art, Smith College 1945 Degree in Medicine (with honours), New York Medical College Scientific career After c

Name Mamie Phipps Clark Life April 1917 - August 1983 Nationality African-American (her father was from the British West Indies) Family Clark was raised in Arkansas by her mother and father, Katy and Harold. During her masters degree, Mamie met her husband, Kenneth Clark. The support and encouragement of her family allowed her to excel in her academics and pursue her scientific career. Education 1937 BSci Maths (major) and Physics (minor), Howard University 1938 MSci Psycholo

Name Flemmie Pansy Kittrell Life December 1904 - October 1980 Nationality African-American Family Kitrell was 1 of 8 children and Kitrelll's parents, James and Alice, emphasised the important of education in all their children. Education 1928 Bsc degree from Hampton Institute, Hampton (Virginia) 1930 Msci related to Science and Home Economics 1936 PhD in nutrition, Cornell University Scientific career Kittrell was the first African-American woman to gain a PhD in nutrition an

Name Bessie Virginia Blount (aka Bessie Blount Griffin) Life November 1914 - December 2009 Nationality African-American Education Diggs Chapel Elementary School Self -taught to the stage equivalent to GED Nurses training programme at Community Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Newark (New Jersey) Graduated from a nursing degree at Union Junior College and Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene Scientific career During World War II, Griffin volunteered with the Gray Ladies,

Name Dr Jeanne Spurlock Life July 1921 - November 1999 Nationality African-American Family Spurlock was the oldest of 7 children to Frank and Glodene Spurlock. Education 1940 Gained a scholarship to the Spelman College in Atlanta (later had to leave as she was unable to meet expenses) 1943 Accepted to Howard University's College of Medicine on an accelerated programme 1947 Graduated from Howard University Scientific career Spurlock had a very prominent and successful career

Name Dr Margaret S Collins Life September 1922 - April 1996 Nationality American Family Margaret was the 4th of Rollins and Luella James' 5 children. Both of her parents were very encouraging of Collins' academic pursuits and instilled an early foundation of resilience and determination that Collins benefited from in later life. Margaret went on to have a family of her own: marrying (twice) and having 2 sons. Education 1943 Receives BSci Biology, West Virginia State Universit

Name Dr Marie Maynard Daly Life April 1922 - October 2003 Nationality American (father immigrated from the British West Indies) Family Daly's parents, Ivan (father) and Helen (mother), were big on education. Ivan began a Chemistry degree that he was unable to complete due to a lack of funds. In 1961, Daly married Vincent Clark. Education 1942 Receives BSci (Hons) Chemistry, Queens College NY 1943 Receives MSci Chemistry, New York University NY 1947 Receives PhD Chemistry, Col