82 “Cadettes”: The Cadettes were formed after the Langley laboratory recommended that Curtiss Wright adopt its female computing pool setup, as detailed in R. H. Cramer’s April 27, 1942, memo “Computing Groups Organization and Practice at NACA” (see LAC). Natalia Holt’s book Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars (New York: Little, Brown, 2016), David Alan Grier’s When Computers Were Human (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005), and Margaret Rossiter’s Women Scientists in America: Before Affirmative Action 1940–1972 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995) all offer fascinating accounts of the computers who worked at installations other than the NACA.
82 subprofessional scientific aide: Walter T. Vicenti, Robert Thomas Jones 1910–1999: A Biographical Memoir (Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2005).
83 conspired to skip him ahead to a P-2: William R. Sears, “Introduction,” Collected Works of R. T. Jones (Moffett Field, CA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1976), ix.
83 lunchtime conversations: John V. Becker, The High Speed Frontier: Case Histories of Four NACA Programs, 1920–1950 (Washington, DC: NASA, 1980), 14.
83 men-only smokers: Edward R. Sharp, “Smoker for Men Only,” Memorandum for Section Heads and Division Chiefs, November 26, 1935, NARA Phil.
84 including two former East Computers: Sheryll Goecke Powers, Women in Flight Research at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center from 1946 to 1995 (Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1997), 3.
85 corroborated by the female computers on the ground: Ibid., 12.
85 NACA’s lone female author: After an extensive name search of NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) and scouring the references in other NACA reports published in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, Doris Cohen’s was the only female name I could find until the mid-1940s, when the names of other women began to appear on the publications. Her name first appeared along with Robert T. Jones on “An Analysis of the Stability of an Airplane with Free Controls,” Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, January 1941, NTRS.
85 Doris Cohen published nine reports: Ibid.
85 (whom she would eventually marry): David F. Salisbury, “Aerodynamics Pioneer R. T. Jones, Former Consulting Professor, Dies,” Stanford University News Service, August 24, 1999. Their professional-personal partnership was fruitful, culminating in publication of the classic aerodynamics text High Speed Wing Theory (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1960).
86 four hundred Langley computers received training on Tucker’s watch: “What’s My Name?”
86 In 1947, the laboratory disbanded East Computing: Floyd L. Thompson to All Concerned, “Disbanding of East Area Computing Pool,” September 17, 1947, NASA Phil.
86 She accepted a job at the Northrup Corporation: “Early Alumni and STEM Fields: Virginia Tucker,” UNCG Special Collections and University Archives, October 14, 2014, http://uncgarchives.tumblr.com/post/100014384990/early-alumni-and-stem-fields-virginia-tucker.
87 When three West Computers made the leap: Women Computers.
87 hadn’t even known: Golemba, “Human Computers,” 14.
87 Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee: Lisa Frazier, “Searching for Dorothy,” Washington Post, May 7, 2000.
87 P-1 mathematician: Dorothy Hoover Personnel File, US Civil Service Commission, NPRC.
87 start the process of inputting values: Sugenia Johnson interview.
88 most respected analysts: Becker, The High Speed Frontier, 14.
88 listening to classical music and discussing politics: Robert A. Bell, “Former ‘Discussion Groups’ at the NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory,” Memorandum for the Security Officer, NACA, July 23, 1954, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), https://vault.fbi.gov/rosenberg-case/julius-rosenberg/julius-rosenberg-part-72-of-1.
88 directly for him: Hoover Personnel File.
88 publishing a study with S. Katzoff and Margery E. Hannah, “Calculation of Tunnel-Induced Upwash Velocities for Swept and Yawed Wings,” Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, 1948, NTRS.
88 thirty-five-year-old newlywed: Air Scoop, October 24, 1947.
89 requested a transfer to the Ames Laboratory: Fitchett Personnel File.
89 one-month illness: Ibid.
90 July and August 1948: Ibid.
90 made an urgent call to Eldridge Derring: Ibid.
90 Blanche had been acting strangely: Ibid.
90 “behaving irrationally”: Ibid.
90 Derring, along with the lab’s health officer: Ibid.
90 anxiously waiting in the lobby: Ibid.
90 “meaningless words and symbols”: Ibid.
90 “I’m trying to explain how to go”: Ibid.
90 “0 ±1 to three significant figures”: Ibid.
90 “one P-75,000”: Ibid.
90 “as some college students”: Ibid.
90 “at least four strong men”: Ibid.
91 taken away to the Tucker Sanatorium: Ibid.
91 “It appears that she will continue ill indefinitely”: Ibid.
91 obituary in the Daily Press: Blanche Sponsler Fitchett Obituary, Daily Press, May 31, 1949.
91 “dementia praecox”: Blanche Sponsler Fitchett death certificate, State of Virginia, May 29 1949, Ancestry.com.
91 appointed Dorothy Vaughan acting head of West Computing: Eldridge H. Derring to All Concerned, “Change in Organization of Research Services and Control,” April 12, 1949, NARA Phil.
92 two years to earn the full title of section head: Eldridge H. Derring to All Concerned: “Appointment of Head of West Area Computers Unit,” January 8, 1951, NARA Phil.
92 “Effective this date”: Ibid.
CHAPTER 10: HOME BY THE SEA
93 the work songs of the black women: Chauncey E. Brown, personal interview, July 19, 2014; Virginia Traditions, Virginia Work Songs (Ferrum, VA: Blue Ridge Institute of Ferrum College, 1983).
94 “Confederate-set inferno”: Mark St. John Erickson, “The Night They Burned Old Hampton Down,” Daily Press, August 7, 2013.
94 “educated young people”: Robert F. Engs, Freedom’s First Generation: Black Hampton, Virginia 1861–1890 (New York: Fordham University Press, 2004), 158.
94 Mary graduated in 1938 with highest honors: “Mary W. Jackson Federal Women’s Program Coordinator,” LHA, October 1979, http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/crgis/images/9/96/MaryJackson1.pdf.
95 mathematics and physical science: Ibid.
95 two of her sisters: Golemba, “Human Computers,” 40.
95 college typing course: Mary W. Jackson Personnel File, US Civil Service Commission, NPRC.
95 welcomed guests at the club’s front door: Ibid.
95 played the piano: “Hampton USO Club Activities,” Norfolk Journal and Guide, May 30, 1942.
96 “sharing and caring”: Mary Winston Jackson funeral program, 2005, in author’s possession.
96 “a pillar”: “Hamptonian Observes 75th Birthday,” Norfolk Journal and Guide, September 7, 1946.
96 one thousand hours of meritorious service: “Bethel AME Rites Held for Mrs. Emily Winston,” Norfolk Journal and Guide, December 29, 1962.
96 white dress with black sequins: “USO Secretary Weds Navy Man,” Norfolk Journal and Guide, November 25, 1944.
97 children of domestic servants, crab pickers, laborers: Janice Johnson, personal interview, April 3, 2014.
97 and steering them toward college: Ibid.
97 three-mile “country” hikes: “Hampton Happenings,” Norfolk Journal and Guide, October 29, 1949.
97 field trips to the crab factory: Janice Johnson interview.
97 tea at the Hampton Institute Mansion House: “Hostess to Girl Scout Troop,” Norfolk Journal and Guide, March 14, 1953; Janice Johnson interview.
97 students from the school’s Home Economics Department: Janice Johnson interview.
98 Mary was leading her charges: Ibid.
98 That day, however, the lyrics: Ibid.
98 “Hold on a minute!” Ibid.
98 “We are never going to sing this again”: Ibid.
98 was required to get a secret security clearance: Jackson Personnel File.
99 an atomic attack: A. B. Chatham, “Dissemination of Combat Information,” Office Chief of Army Field Forces, Fort Monroe, Virginia, August 29, 1952, http://koreanwar-educator.org/topics/reports/after_action/combat_information_bulletins/combat_information_bulletins_520829_350_05_56.pdf.
99 “too fast to be identified”: Stephen Joiner, “The Jet That Shocked the West,” Air and Space Magazine, December 2013.
99 “Russia Said to Have Fastest Fighter Plane”: Leon Schloss, writing in the Norfolk Journal and Guide, February 18, 1950.
99 Building 1244, the largest structure of its kind: Photo caption, Air Scoop, March 16, 1951.