Hidden figures

What was the purpose of the ad placed by the NACA in 1943?

To recruit women for jobs previously held by men due to the labor shortage from World War II.

What agency placed the ad seeking women workers in 1943?

The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

What was the mission of the NACA?

To help the United States develop powerful and efficient airplanes.

How many airplanes did President Roosevelt challenge the nation to produce annually in 1941?

Fifty thousand airplanes.

What significant achievement did the American aircraft industry reach by 1943?

It became the largest, most productive, and most sophisticated in the world.

What was the slogan associated with the efforts at the Langley Laboratory?

"Victory through Air Power!"

What role did female mathematicians play at the Langley Laboratory?

They performed computations to process data collected during tests.

What term was used to refer to female mathematicians at Langley before the modern definition of 'computer'?

Computers.

What was the classification given to many female mathematicians at Langley?

Subprofessionals.

Who encouraged President Roosevelt to sign the executive order for desegregation in the federal government?

Civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph.

What was the outcome of the executive order signed by President Roosevelt?

It opened new job opportunities for African Americans in the defense industry.

What type of training was provided to African Americans during WWII?

Special training classes at black colleges for war jobs.

What was the racial composition of the East Area and West Area Computers at Langley?

East Area Computers were all white, while West Area Computers were all black, except for the supervisor and her assistant.

What was the historical context of Hampton, Virginia, during the time of the Langley Laboratory's operations?

It was a southern town with racial segregation laws.

What was one of the tasks the Langley staff had to prepare for the arrival of African-American mathematicians?

Creating metal bathroom signs that read 'Colored Girls.'

What was the significance of hiring black mathematicians at Langley?

It marked a new opportunity for African Americans to work in roles previously unavailable to them.

What year did female mathematicians begin working at the Langley Laboratory?

1935.

How did the performance of female mathematicians compare to their male counterparts?

They were just as good or even better at computing.

What was the primary job of the engineers at the Langley Laboratory?

To develop, test, and refine airplane designs.

What was the impact of small design changes in airplane testing?

They could significantly improve performance and affect the outcome of the war.

What were the primary duties of the 'number crunchers' at Langley?

To process data collected during tests.

What was the significance of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in WWII?

It played a crucial role in developing aircraft for military use.

What did the term 'computers' refer to in the 1940s?

Individuals, often women, who performed calculations and data processing.

What challenges did African-American women face when entering the workforce at Langley?

They had to navigate a segregated environment and prove their capabilities in a new setting.

What was the initial reaction of engineers to the hiring of black mathematicians?

Most engineers welcomed the additional help.

3 women in hidden figures

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson