Jasmin Gaines

Dr. Natalia Callahan

A.P. Calculus AB

June 2, 2017

Famous Mathematician

In 1961, Alan Shepard took flight; he became the first American man to be sent into

space on the Freedom 7. But, the brain behind the trajectories that got him there on a successful

mission wasnt publicly known. Today, Katherine Johnson is a famous mathematician who has

received great recognition for her contributions in the space program NASA.

Johnson was born on August 26, 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County,

West Virginia, to Joshua and Joylette Coleman. Now ninety-eight years old. As a child Johnson

recalls I counted everything, I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to the church, the

number of dishes and silverware I washed anything that could be counted I did. Mr. and Mrs.

Coleman wanted their daughter to pursue her education further and sent her to high school at the

Institute at just ten years old. At the time, Greenbrier County did not offer public schooling for

African American students past the eighth grade. Johnsons natural ability for analytical math

allowed her to thrive. Making the trip from the Institute-during the school year-to White Sulphur

Springs-in the summer-well worth the while. Until, Johnson graduated from high school at

fourteen years old.

Johnson had attended West Virginia State College, and graduated with degrees in

mathematics and French at eighteen years old. Leading to her career with the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which would later become NASA. As a computer, read the

data from the black boxes of planes and carry out their precise mathematical task. Later, picked

out to help an all-male flight team.

Katherine Coleman became Katherine Goble when she wed James Goble, her first

husband in 1939. Their daughters names were Constance, Joylette, and Katherine. Unfortunate,

James Goble passed away, he had a fatal brain tumor. Goble was a widow and a single parent at

this time. Eventually, Katherine Johnson married again to James Johnson. He was a second

Lieutenant in the army and served in the Korean War.

Now Johnsons time has come to receive recognition. President Barrack Obama awarded

her the Presidential Medal of Honor on November 24, 2015; the civilian highest honor.

https://nasa.gov/feature/katherine-johnson-the-girl-who-loved-to-count

https://nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography