Henrietta Lacks
1920 – 1951

Henrietta Lacks

American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line (1920–1951)

farmworkerhomemaker
Born
1920-08-01, Roanoke
Died
1951-10-04
Birthplace state
Virginia

Biography

Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research. An immortalized cell line reproduces indefinitely under specific conditions, and the HeLa cell line continues to be a source of invaluable medical data and research to the present day.

Occupation

Henrietta Lacks is recorded as a farmworker and a homemaker, born in Virginia (1920–1951).

Connections to Virginia

Henrietta Lacks was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1920. Explore other notable figures from Virginia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Henrietta Lacks came from Roanoke. A full Aubrey report on Roanoke pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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More notable figures from Virginia

Other historical figures born in Virginia, ranked by historical prominence.

George Washington
George Washington
founding Father and first U.S. president; soldier and slave owner (1732–1799)
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
president of the United States from 1801 to 1809 (1743–1826)
James Madison
James Madison
President of the United States from 1809 to 1817 (1751–1836)
James Monroe
James Monroe
president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 (1758–1831)
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
president of the United States from 1849 to 1850
John Tyler
John Tyler
president of the United States from 1841 to 1845
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
president of the United States in 1841

Frequently asked about Henrietta Lacks

Who was Henrietta Lacks?
Henrietta Lacks was American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line (1920–1951), born in Virginia (1920 – 1951).
When and where was Henrietta Lacks born?
Henrietta Lacks was born on 1920-08-01 in Roanoke.
When did Henrietta Lacks die?
Henrietta died on 1951-10-04.
What was Henrietta Lacks known for?
Henrietta Lacks is recorded as a farmworker and a homemaker.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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