10 Questions
What color was the badge that Dorothy Vaughn received?
Blue
When was the Langley Laboratory established?
1917
What was the purpose of painting the West Area dark green in 1942?
To camouflage the facility against possible attack
What is the main focus of research for the black women working in the Warehouse Building?
Aeronautical engineering
Where is Dorothy Vaughn's work area located in relation to the white female mathematicians' work area?
Segregated from
What is the significance of Miriam Mann stealing the COLORED COMPUTERS sign?
It symbolizes her defiance against racial segregation in the workplace.
How does the setting of the cafeteria at Langley reflect racial segregation?
The black computers have a separate designated table marked with a 'COLORED COMPUTERS' sign.
What does Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox's statement 'the war is taking place in the laboratories as well as on the battlefields' imply?
It emphasizes the importance of scientific research in winning the war.
What do Miriam Mann, Pearl Basette, Yvette Brown, Thelma Stiles, and Minnie McGraw have in common?
They were among the first black women to work in a specific area.
What does the doubling of the size of the West Area in the coming three years imply?
It signifies an expansion of job opportunities for black women at Langley.
Study Notes
Dorothy Vaughn
- Dorothy Vaughn received a silver badge.
Langley Laboratory
- The Langley Laboratory was established in 1917.
West Area
- In 1942, the West Area was painted dark green for camouflage purposes.
Research Focus
- The black women working in the Warehouse Building focused on calculations and data analysis for aeronautical research.
Work Area Location
- Dorothy Vaughn's work area was located in the segregated West Area, separate from the white female mathematicians' work area.
Racial Tensions
- Miriam Mann stealing the COLORED COMPUTERS sign was a subtle act of defiance against racial segregation.
Cafeteria Setting
- The cafeteria at Langley was segregated, reflecting the racial segregation of the time.
War Efforts
- Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox's statement implied that the war effort relied heavily on scientific contributions made in laboratories.
Commonality
- Miriam Mann, Pearl Basette, Yvette Brown, Thelma Stiles, and Minnie McGraw were all African American women working at Langley.
West Area Expansion
- The doubling of the West Area's size in the next three years implied a significant increase in research and development activities.
Test your knowledge of the history of Dorothy Vaughan and the Langley Laboratory, including her acceptance of the US Civil Service Oath and the establishment of the lab in 1917. Learn about the significant contributions of black computers at the Langley Lab.
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