Ceramic Mug, (11oz, 15oz) (ALICE AUGUSTA BALL)

Alice Augusta Ball was a pioneering African American chemist known for her groundbreaking work in developing a treatment for leprosy. Here are some key highlights of her life and achievements:

1. Early Life: Born on July 24, 1892, in Seattle, Washington, Ball was the daughter of James Presley Ball and Laura Louise (Howard) Ball. She was the first woman and the first African American to receive a master’s degree from the University of Hawai’i.
2. The Ball Method: Ball developed the “Ball Method,” which involved creating ethyl ester derivatives of chaulmoogra oil. This method made the oil injectable and more effective in treating leprosy, a significant medical breakthrough at the time.
3. Academic Career: Ball was also the first female and African American chemistry professor at the University of Hawai’i. Her contributions to science were not fully recognized until many years after her death.

Unfortunately, after Alice Ball’s untimely death, her work was claimed by others. Specifically, Arthur Dean, the president of the College of Hawaii (now the University of Hawai’i), and Richard Wrenshall, a chemistry professor, published papers using her research without giving her credit. Dean even renamed her method the “Dean Method”. It wasn’t until many years later that Alice Ball’s contributions were properly recognized and celebrated

1. Legacy: Despite her untimely death at the age of 24, Ball’s work had a lasting impact on the treatment of leprosy and paved the way for future advancements in medicine.

Alice Ball’s innovative spirit and dedication to science continue to inspire and be celebrated