Inventions
Creater of specialized hair products for African American Women
Madam C.J. Walker
Known as a “human computer,” and was part of a team that did mathematical calculations to help launch satellites—and later humans—into space. Her accomplishments were the focus of the book and movie Hidden Figures
Dorothy Johnson Vaughan
First Black women to attend Ohio University
Minerva Woodson
World renowned performer, World War II spy, and activist in the 1960s
Josephine Baker
She was the first woman of African-American descent and the first of Native American descent, to hold a pilot license.
Bessie Coleman
Designed and invented pocketed underwear
Brothella Quick
African-American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflightsPresident Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. Her accomplishments were the focus of the book and movie Hidden Figures
Katherine Johnson
The first African American woman to be appointed dean of a United States medical school. (OU)
Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee
An activist who gained notoriety in the 1960s and 70s while working with the Communist Party USA and the Black Panther Party
Angela Davis
Dubbed"The First Lady of Song", she was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. Won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Sang "A-tisket, A-tasket"
Ella Fitzgerald
Invented a laser apparatus for surgery of cataractous lenses
Patricia Bath
African American chemist who developed an injectable herbal extract that was the most effective treatment for leprosy during the early 20th century.
Alice Ball
First tenured African American professor at Ohio University. She has been a proponent over the decades for social justice causes including racial equality and better services for at-risk youth.
Dr. Francine Childs
She was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis in 1960
Ruby Bridges
Became the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, and she represented New York's 12th congressional district for seven terms from 1969 to 1983
Shirley Chisholm
Created a toaster with a digital timer in 1987, which allowed for choosing mild to dark toasting.
Ruane Jeter
First African-American woman to earn a doctorate in nuclear physics at MIT.
Dr. Shirley Jackson
First African American first lady of Ohio university
Deborah McDavis
American author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, poet and civil rights activist best known for her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
Considered the fastest woman of all time based on the fact that the world records she set in 1988 for both the 100 m and 200 m still stand.
Florence Joyner (Flo-Jo)
Together, they invented the sanitary belt. Later, invented the moisture-resistant pocket for the belt and the toilet-tissue holder.
Mary and Mildred Davidson
The first African American woman to travel in space
Dr. Mae Jemison
First Unified Sisters president
Alana Below
A former slave that became an outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, and civil and women’s rights in the nineteenth century. Honored with an invitation to the White House and became involved with the Freedmen’s Bureau, helping freed slaves find jobs and build new lives.
Sojourner Truth
An African-American investigative journalist, educator, and an early leader in the Civil Rights Movement. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Ida B. Wells