1918 – 2020

Katherine Johnson

African-American mathematician

military flight engineermathematicianphysicistcomputer scientistteacher

Born

1918-08-26, White Sulphur Springs

Died

2020-02-24

Birthplace state

West Virginia

Biography

Creola Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician and human computer whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. During her 33-year career at NASA and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, she earned a reputation for mastering complex manual calculations and helped pioneer the use of computers to perform tasks previously requiring humans. The space agency noted her "historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist".

Occupation

Katherine Johnson is recorded as a military flight engineer, a mathematician, a physicist, a computer scientist, a teacher and a writer, born in West Virginia (1918–2020).

Connections to West Virginia

Katherine Johnson was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia in 1918. Explore other notable figures from West Virginia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from West Virginia›West Virginiahistory ›Historic sites in West Virginia›

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Everything a full report reveals about White Sulphur Springs

Katherine Johnson came from White Sulphur Springs. A full Aubrey report on White Sulphur Springs pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

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

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from West Virginia

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

Pearl S. Buck

American writer (1892–1973)

John Forbes Nash

American mathematician and economist (1928–2015)

Stonewall Jackson

general of the Confederate Army in the American Civil War

Don Knotts

American actor and stand-up comedian (1924-2006)

Chuck Yeager

American World War II flying ace and test pilot; first pilot to fly faster than sound (1923–2020)

Jerry West

American basketball player and executive (1938-2024)

Bill Withers

American musician (1938–2020)

Frequently asked about Katherine Johnson

Who was Katherine Johnson?

Katherine Johnson was African-American mathematician, born in West Virginia (1918 – 2020).

When and where was Katherine Johnson born?

Katherine Johnson was born on 1918-08-26 in White Sulphur Springs.

When did Katherine Johnson die?

Katherine died on 2020-02-24.

What was Katherine Johnson known for?

Katherine Johnson is recorded as a military flight engineer, a mathematician, a physicist, a computer scientist, a teacher and a writer.

Source

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

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