Dorothy Vaughan

Follows Dorothy Vaughan's path from math teacher to "human computer" as well as her success as first African American supervisor at her company.

In 1949, Dorothy Vaughan became the first African American woman to lead a team at NASA's Langley Research Center. Her work as a mathematician was an important part of helping the United States explore space. Learn more about Vaughan's life as a famous mathematician!

In 1949, Dorothy Vaughan became the first African American woman to lead a team at NASA's Langley Research Center. Her work as a mathematician was an important part of helping the United States explore space. Learn more about Vaughan's life as a famous mathematician!

The My Itty-Bitty Bio series are biographies for the earliest readers. This book examines the life of NASA computer programmer and mathematician Dorothy Vaughan in a simple, age-appropriate way that will help children develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a timeline, primary sources, and informative backmatter.

The true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space.

Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers! Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math…really good. They participated in some of NASA's greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America's first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world. In this beautifully illustrated picture book edition, we explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as "colored computers," and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career. "Finally, the extraordinary lives of four African American women who helped NASA put the first men in space is available for picture book readers," proclaims Brightly in their article "18 Must-Read Picture Books of 2018." "Will inspire girls and boys alike to love math, believe in themselves, and reach for the stars."

Outstanding book for Girls! Dorothy Vaughan was the first African American woman to become a section manager for NACA. This was the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. This group later became NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). She has become famous as one of the subjects of a bestselling book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The book is titled Hidden Figures. It tells about black women math experts who helped develop planes for World War II. Their work was an important part of winning the war. They also worked on the space program. This work helped put a man on the moon. The book was made into a movie, also called Hidden Figures, with Octavia Spencer playing Vaughan. While she reached an important position within NACA, Dorothy still faced problems with segregation. Segregation is "enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment." African Americans -or colored as they were often called then - faced segregation. At that time in the United States, black people had to use separate items from white people. The unit she later managed, West Computing, was only for African American women. However, it was first managed by white women. Computers, when Dorothy joined the unit, meant people who worked in the area of mathematics. They computed the data needed by the people working on aeronautical research. Aeronautics is "the science or practice of travel through the air."

From rocket scientists to code breakers, “fascinating stories” of women who overcame obstacles, shattered stereotypes, and pursued their passion for math (Notices of the American Mathematical Society). With more than 200 photos and original interviews with several of the amazing women covered, Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics is a full-color volume that puts a spotlight on the influence of women on the development of mathematics over the last two millennia. Each biography reveals the life of a different female mathematician, from her childhood and early influences to the challenges she faced and the great achievements she made in spite of them. Learn how: After her father terminated her math lessons, Sofia Kovalevskaya snuck algebra books into her bed to read at night Emmy Noether became an invaluable resource to Albert Einstein while she was in the Navy Native American rocket scientist Mary Golda Ross developed designs for fighter jets and missiles in a top-secret unit Katherine Johnson’s life-or-death calculations at NASA meant that astronauts such as Alan Shepard and John Glenn made it home alive Shakuntala Devi multiplied massive numbers in her head so her family could eat at night Pamela Harris proved her school counselors wrong when they told her she would only succeed as a bilinguial secretary Carla Cotwright-Williams began her life in the dangerous streets of South-Central Los Angeles before skyrocketing to a powerful career with the Department of Defense in Washington, DC These women are a diverse group, but their stories have one thing in common: At some point on their journeys, someone believed in them—and made them think the impossible was perhaps not so impossible. “A quick read . . . full of dramatic stories and eye-catching illustrations.” —MAA Reviews “I found myself marveling at the personal anecdotes and quotes throughout the book.” —Notices of the American Mathematical Society