Illinois CS: Historic Figures — “Past”

Written by: Elaina Xiao

Happy International Women’s Month! As we celebrate this March, it is also important to take note of the women who were often overlooked: women in technology. Especially in the past, many achievements and discoveries in technology were made by women. So, let’s take a look at some of the many women who impacted the field of technology.

Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace is often referred to as the “world’s first computer programmer”. Born in 1815, Ada was homeschooled by her mother who insisted that she was taught science and mathematics. Despite being an English writer, Ada is known to be the first programmer due to her written notes explaining how the notion of an engine could transition calculation to computation. Additionally, every second Tuesday in October is known as Ada Lovelace Day, but her achievements deserve to be recognized even more frequently.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr was one of the most famous Hollywood actresses in the 1940s. Born in Vienna, Austria in 1914, she was recognized as a great beauty, which contributed to her fame. Yet despite starring in dozens of films and gracing the cover of every Hollywood celebrity magazine, few people knew Hedy was also a gifted inventor. In fact, one of the technologies she co-invented laid a key foundation for future communication systems, including GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi. She was awarded a patent in 1942 for her “secret communication system”, which was intended as a way to set radio-guided torpedos off course during the war.

Katherine Johnson

Born in 1918, Katherine was among three African American students admitted to West Virginia’s graduate college. She later joined the all-black computing section at the National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics (NACA). Despite her initial role as a “computer,” Katherine progressed to become a valuable team member contributing to various NASA projects. She played a crucial role in calculating trajectories that enabled spacecraft and astronauts to orbit Earth and land on the Moon successfully. These pivotal historical events would not have been achievable without Katherine’s contributions. Further, her work and experiences were displayed in the award-winning film, “Hidden Figures”.

Sister Mary Keller

Born in 1913, Mary Keller, an American Roman Catholic religious sister, embarked on her career in 1958 at the computer center of Dartmouth College, an all-male institution. Collaborating with two fellow scientists, she played a pivotal role in developing the BASIC computer programming language. Subsequently, she founded and chaired a computer science department at Clarke College, where she actively advocated for women in the field. Keller supported working mothers by encouraging them to bring their babies to class, fostering an inclusive environment. Notably, she made history as the first woman to attain a Ph.D. in computer science.

Adele Goldberg

Born in 1945, Adele entered the tech world during the summer between her junior and senior years of college when she joined IBM. During breaks, she taught herself how to program unit record machines. Transitioning into the 1970s, Adele became a researcher at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Centre (PARC). She stood out as the sole woman in a group of men who collaborated to develop the Smalltalk-80 programming language. This language played a crucial role in creating one of the earliest modern Graphics User Interfaces (GUI), incorporating elements like windows, icons, menus, and pointers (WIMP).

Mary Wilkes

Mary, a former computer programmer and logic designer, gained prominence for her role in designing the software for the LINC, a pioneering interactive personal computer system. Her noteworthy achievements include being the first-ever home computer user when she utilized the LINC at her residence in 1965. The significance of her contributions has been acknowledged at The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park.

The ENIAC Programmers

As participants in a covert World War Two initiative, six young women played a pivotal role in programming the inaugural all-electronic programmable computer. Despite their significant contributions, when the project was unveiled to the public in 1946, these women remained unrecognized and uncredited. Subsequently, the ENIAC Programmers Project has diligently worked to preserve and share the stories of these six women, ensuring that their vital contributions to early computing history are acknowledged and celebrated.

Of course, there are many women who have been overlooked in history, but hopefully, we increase recognition and equality for females in all fields, including STEM. Without these incredible women, many inventions and historic moments would not have been possible, and during this month and all months of the year, it is necessary to respect and honor them!