Dorothy Vaughan In Hidden Figures
Dorothy Vaughan was a character portrayed in the movie Hidden Figures. The move was based off the real person named Dorothy Vaughan. Octavia Spencer played her in the Hidden Figures. Dorothy was born on September 20, 1910. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She died November 10, 2008. Early in her life, her family moved to Morgantown, West Virginia. In 1925, she graduated from Beechurt High School. Dorothy received a full tuition scholarship. At only 19 she graduated from Wilberforce University. She graduated with a B.A. in mathematics. In 1932 she married her husband. His name was Howard Vaughan. The two moved to Newport News, Virginia. Here they had six kids. Their names were, Ann, Maida, Leonard, Kenneth, Michael, and Donald. One of her children also worked at NASA later on. After she
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graduated college, she started working as a teacher. Although, all of her professors to do graduate studying at Howard University. Instead, she wanted to help her family through the great depression. At 28 years, old she started a job as a teacher and mathematician at the Langley Research Center. Here she specialized in calculations for flight paths, the Scout Project, and FORTRAN computer programming. In 1943 Dorothy began working at NACA.
In 1935, NACA established a section of women who did complex calculations for the company. She worked in the west area Computer section at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. the group consisted of African American women who made mathematical calculations by hand and using some tools they had back then. They continue to work after the war to support research and design for the US Space Program. John F Kennedy(the president) organized this program. In 1961 Dorothy started working in the area of electronic computing. She she became very skillful in computer programming and also taught herself the program FORTRAN. She later taught her co-workers the program. In 1949, she became the head of the West area computers taking over the white woman who had just passed away. Dorothy became the first black supervisor at NACA and one of the few female supervisors. She was in charge of a group made up entirely of African American women that were mathematicians. She knew the machine computers were going to be in the future so she taught the women programming languages and other concepts to prepare them for this upcoming
transition. After NASA was established in 1958, Vaughan continued to work there. At this time, the company also ended racial segregation at the facility. In the 1960s, Vaughan worked in the numerical techniques division. she also became part of the analysis computation division. She worked at NASA-Langley for 28 years. Vaughan Retired from NASA in 1971 at the age of 60 years old. She passed away on November 10th, 2008 at the stunning age of 98. Vaughan had 6 children, 10 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
Dorothy Vaughan was an important person that helped greatly throughout the segregation period In the 1900s. She was the inspiration for many people all around the world to stand up for what they believe in. Her children especially looked up to her as a role model. She played a big part and helping desegregate public facilities and the world around us today. She also played a big part in women's rights since women didn't have very many rights at the time.
graduated college, she started working as a teacher. Although, all of her professors to do graduate studying at Howard University. Instead, she wanted to help her family through the great depression. At 28 years, old she started a job as a teacher and mathematician at the Langley Research Center. Here she specialized in calculations for flight paths, the Scout Project, and FORTRAN computer programming. In 1943 Dorothy began working at NACA.
In 1935, NACA established a section of women who did complex calculations for the company. She worked in the west area Computer section at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. the group consisted of African American women who made mathematical calculations by hand and using some tools they had back then. They continue to work after the war to support research and design for the US Space Program. John F Kennedy(the president) organized this program. In 1961 Dorothy started working in the area of electronic computing. She she became very skillful in computer programming and also taught herself the program FORTRAN. She later taught her co-workers the program. In 1949, she became the head of the West area computers taking over the white woman who had just passed away. Dorothy became the first black supervisor at NACA and one of the few female supervisors. She was in charge of a group made up entirely of African American women that were mathematicians. She knew the machine computers were going to be in the future so she taught the women programming languages and other concepts to prepare them for this upcoming
transition. After NASA was established in 1958, Vaughan continued to work there. At this time, the company also ended racial segregation at the facility. In the 1960s, Vaughan worked in the numerical techniques division. she also became part of the analysis computation division. She worked at NASA-Langley for 28 years. Vaughan Retired from NASA in 1971 at the age of 60 years old. She passed away on November 10th, 2008 at the stunning age of 98. Vaughan had 6 children, 10 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
Dorothy Vaughan was an important person that helped greatly throughout the segregation period In the 1900s. She was the inspiration for many people all around the world to stand up for what they believe in. Her children especially looked up to her as a role model. She played a big part and helping desegregate public facilities and the world around us today. She also played a big part in women's rights since women didn't have very many rights at the time.