Ruth Ella Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Ella Moore
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Ruth Ella Moore
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| Born | May 19, 1903 |
| Died | July 19, 1994 (aged 91) |
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| Institutions | Howard University |
Ruth Ella Moore (May 19, 1903 in Columbus, Ohio – July 19, 1994) was an American bacteriologist and microbiologist. She became the first African-American woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in a natural science as well as the first African American of any gender to earn a PhD in Bacteriology.
Moore was a professor of bacteriology at Howard University. Her research included significant contributions in the study of blood types of African-Americans, dental caries (cavities), and the response of gut microorganisms to antibiotics. Her work on gut microorganisms is considered some of the earliest on microbiomes.
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Early life and education
Ruth Ella Moore was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 19, 1903. Her parents were Willian E. Moore and Margaret Moore. She had two elder brothers, Donovan L. Moore and William E. Moore. Moore's mother was an artist. She always encouraged Ruth to strive for a college degree and beyond.
Moore attended Ohio State University, which was one of the few universities in the United States admitting Black students at the time. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1926 and her Master of Science degree in 1927. She was awarded her Ph.D. in bacteriology in 1933.
Career
In 1940, Moore became assistant professor of bacteriology at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. In 1952, she became chair of the department of bacteriology. Moore changed the department name from the department of bacteriology to the department of microbiology. She was subsequently promoted to the position of associate professor.
In 1957, Moore stepped down from her departmental leadership position, but continued to teach and conduct research on bacteriology at the university. She retired from teaching at Howard University in 1973 and held the position of the associate professor emeritus of microbiology until 1990. It is unclear whether she ever received tenure despite her long career of teaching and research. Moore also held other positions at the university, serving as chair of the scholarship and loans committee, as well as, chair of the student guidance committee.
Throughout her career she was a member of the American Public Health Association and the American Society of Microbiology, which she joined in 1936.
Honors
Moore was awarded two honorary degrees during her career, a doctorate in literature from Oberlin College and, in 1973, a doctor of philosophy from Gettysburg College.
She received the Centennial Award for Distinguished Alumni from Ohio State University.
In 2005, U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced a congressional bill recognizing the work of Ruth Ella Moore along with that of other scientists in the United States.
Death
Moore died at the age of 91 on July 19, 1994 in Rockville, Maryland.
Interesting facts about Ruth Ella Moore
- Moore's dissertation was on the tuberculosis bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. At the time, tuberculosis was the second largest cause of death in the United States. Her work was referenced in many later articles contributing to the eventual control of the disease.
- She was the first woman to be a department Head at Howard University College of Medicine.
- Moore was the first African-American to join the American Society for Microbiology.
- She was a member of the American Association of Science, American Society of Immunology, the American Association of Microbiology, and the American Public Health Association.
- Moore also gained recognition as a fashion designer. She designed and constructed her own garments for most occasions. Some of her most notable creations include a two-piece suit composed of an off-white jacket and a black skirt, a long velvet dress, and a taffeta dress that was floor-length and covered in flowers of many colors.
See also
In Spanish: Ruth Ella Moore para niños
