Alice Ball

Hello! My name is Alice Augusta Ball, and I was a chemist who loved solving puzzles. I was born on July 24th, 1892, in Seattle, Washington. My family was full of creative and smart people who encouraged my curiosity from a very young age. My grandfather was a famous photographer, which is a bit like being a scientist because you have to mix chemicals carefully to develop pictures! Seeing his work made me fascinated with how different substances could be combined to create something new. My family always taught me that education was the key to unlocking my potential. I loved going to school, and I worked very hard, especially in my science classes where I could conduct experiments and discover how the world worked. In 1910, after years of dedicated study, I graduated from Seattle High School, feeling excited and ready for my next big adventure in learning.

After high school, I knew I wanted to continue studying science, so I enrolled at the University of Washington. I was completely fascinated by how medicines worked inside the human body. I studied chemistry with great passion and earned two degrees by 1914: one in pharmaceutical chemistry and another in pharmacy. But I felt like my journey of learning was just beginning. I wanted to learn even more, so I decided to move somewhere warm and sunny to continue my education. I sailed all the way across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii to attend the College of Hawaii, which is now known as the University of Hawaii. The tropical plants and new environment were so inspiring. In 1915, I earned my master's degree in chemistry. I was very proud because I became the first African American and the first woman to graduate with a master's degree from that school. The college recognized my hard work and even asked me to stay and teach, which made me the college's first female chemistry instructor!

While I was teaching at the college, a doctor named Harry T. Hollmann came to me with a very serious problem. There was a terrible sickness called Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, that hurt people's skin and nerves. It was a very lonely illness because people who had it were often forced to live far away from their families and friends in isolated communities. There was a possible treatment made from the oil of the chaulmoogra tree, but it had a big problem. The oil was thick and sticky, and it was very hard for the body to absorb, which meant it didn't work well as a medicine. My job was to figure out how to make this oil into a medicine that could be used easily and effectively. I spent many hours in my lab, experimenting and testing different ideas. Finally, I discovered a process to separate the healing parts of the oil and make them mix with water. This was a huge breakthrough! It meant the medicine could finally be given as a simple injection that the body could absorb. I had solved the puzzle. This new, effective treatment became known as the 'Ball Method.'

I was so excited about my discovery and the hope it offered to so many people. Sadly, I became very ill before I could publish a paper explaining my findings. I lived to be just 24 years old, passing away on December 31st, 1916. For a long time, my important work was nearly forgotten. The president of the college, Arthur Dean, continued my research and took credit for it, calling it the 'Dean Method.' But the truth is powerful and can't stay hidden forever. Decades later, historians and scientists uncovered my notebooks and research, and they realized what I had accomplished all on my own. In the year 2000, the University of Hawaii finally gave me the credit I deserved by placing a plaque in my honor. They even declared February 29th as 'Alice Ball Day.' My treatment helped thousands of people with Hansen's disease get better and reunite with their families. I hope my story reminds you that your curiosity and hard work can make a big difference in the world, even if it takes a while for everyone to see it.