
was one of my math teachers in college - his wife had taught me math in the eighth grade - and because they didn't have children at that time, I became a kind of child to them. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology:. Katherine explained in that Evans, who had a B.S. It was a difficult decision for the girl who was talented in all these subjects, so eventually she decided to major in two of these topics.Īt West Virginia State College she was taught mathematics by James Carmichael Evans (1900- 1988). She had two years in which to make a decision as to which subject she would major in and she knew it was one of English, French and mathematics. This College, now West Virginia State University, was a black college, founded in 1890 but only taking the name West Virginia State College in 1929, three years before Katherine began her studies there.
Mathematician katherine johnson nasa full#
After graduating from Virginia State High School, Katherine made the natural progression to West Virginia State College having been awarded a full scholarship covering her tuition fees, room and board. This interest came about since she would walk home each evening with the school principal who pointed out stars and constellations to her. Katherine also became very interested in astronomy while at the high school. a wonderful teacher - bright, caring, and very rigorous. She was a tremendous influence on Katherine both in high school and later in West Virginia State College where she also taught. At this high school, associated to West Virginia State College, she had excelled in mathematics and was taught geometry by Angie Turner King who did an outstanding job in encouraging her students and giving them a love of their subject. Katherine began her studies at West Virginia State High School in 1928 and graduated in 1932. In the summer they would return around 200 km to White Sulphur Springs where Joshua worked as a farmer. White Sulphur Springs had no high school for black children and the Coleman family were determined that their children would have a quality education so, every autumn, Katherine's mother moved with her children to a rented home in Institute, Kanawha County, West Virginia, so their children could attend high school there. At age ten she was ready to enter high school. When she was eight years old she should have entered the fifth grade but, being one of the best students, she was put straight into the sixth grade of a newly opened school, having at this stage overtaken her brother Charles who was three years older but now a grade below Katherine. Katherine attended elementary school from the age of five but even at that stage she was advanced for her age and went straight into the second grade. She also had an older sister, Margaret, born about 1913. Katherine had two older brothers, Horace born about 1912 and Charles born about 1915. Joylette, the daughter of Lee Lowe and Roberta Johnson, was born in 1887 in Caswell County, North Carolina and became a school teacher. He married Joylette Roberta Lowe on 29 September 1909 in Danville, Virginia. Joshua worked at various jobs, farming, odd jobs and as a janitor.

Katherine's father was Joshua Mckinley Coleman, born in White Sulphur Springs on 18 December 1881 to Horace Coleman and Margaret Johnson.

Johnson is her married name (from her second husband ) but, for the sake of simplicity, we will use the name Katherine up to the point when she married for the second time. Biography Katherine Johnson was given the name Katherine Coleman on her birth.
