Born: 1922 (Lynchburg, Virginia)
Died: 2012
Biography:
Kathryn Peddrew (June 14, 1922 – March 4, 2012) was an African-American mathematician, engineer, and scientist who played a crucial role in the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She was one of the African-American women who worked as a human computer at NACA’s Langley Research Center in the 1940s and 1950s. Her work contributed significantly to advancements in aerospace technology and the United States’ efforts in the space race. She is best known for her work as a researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she played a crucial role in the development of treatments for diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis. Peddrew’s work helped to break down racial and gender barriers in the scientific community and paved the way for future generations of minority scientists.
Early life and education
Peddrew was born in 1920 in Lynchburg, Virginia. She grew up in a family that valued education, and she excelled in school from a young age. She attended Dunbar High School, a prestigious, all-black institution in Washington, D.C., before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Miner Teachers College, now known as the University of the District of Columbia, in 1943.
Career at NACA and NASA
Peddrew began her career at NACA’s Langley Research Center in the 1940s. She was part of the West Area Computing Unit, a group of African-American female mathematicians led by Dorothy Vaughan. The unit was responsible for performing complex calculations that were critical to various aeronautical research projects. Despite facing racial segregation and discrimination, Peddrew and her colleagues persisted in their work and contributed to the development of supersonic flight, as well as the early stages of the space race, including Project Mercury and the Apollo missions.
In addition to her role as a human computer, Peddrew also worked as an aerospace technologist, conducting research on various projects at NACA and later, NASA.
Career at the National Institutes of Health
After completing her degree, Peddrew joined the NIH in 1951 as a member of the Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology. She was one of the few African American women to work as a scientist at the NIH at the time. During her 37-year tenure at the NIH, Peddrew conducted groundbreaking research on the metabolism and mechanisms of action of drugs used to treat cancer and tuberculosis. Her work on the anti-cancer drug methotrexate was particularly influential and contributed to the drug’s approval for clinical use.
Legacy and recognition
Throughout her career, Peddrew received numerous awards and accolades for her research and contributions to the scientific community. In 1979, she was honored with the NIH’s prestigious Merit Award for her work on the pharmacology of anti-cancer drugs. Peddrew’s groundbreaking research and perseverance in the face of adversity have left a lasting impact on the fields of aerospace technology and medical science.
Awards:
– NIH Merit Award (1979)