Ceramic Mug, (11oz, 15oz) Alice Ball: The Chemist Who Gave Hope to Millions.”

Alice Augusta Ball was a pioneering African American chemist who made groundbreaking contributions to medical science. Born on July 24, 1892, in Seattle, Washington, she became the first woman and first African American to earn a master’s degree from the University of Hawaiʻi and later became the university’s first female chemistry professor.

Her most significant achievement was developing the Ball Method, a revolutionary technique for making chaulmoogra oil injectable, which became the first effective treatment for leprosy in the early 20th century. Before her discovery, chaulmoogra oil was used inconsistently, often causing painful side effects. Ball’s method allowed the oil to be absorbed into the bloodstream, improving treatment outcomes for patients suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy).

Tragically, Ball passed away at the young age of 24 in 1916, before she could see the full impact of her work. For decades, her contributions were overlooked, and a male scientist attempted to take credit for her discovery.

Alice Ball’s groundbreaking Ball Method for treating leprosy was initially credited to Arthur Dean, the president of the College of Hawaiʻi (now the University of Hawaiʻi). After Ball’s untimely death in 1916, Dean continued her research but failed to acknowledge her contributions, instead naming the discovery the Dean Method

However, her legacy was later restored, and today, she is honored with memorials, awards, and recognition for her scientific achievements.

Her work remains a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the power of science to change lives.