History Archives

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Timeline of Events

What happened during the life of Henrietta Lacks? What was the aftermath of the collection and use of her cells? What is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks timeline of key events from the book? The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tells the story of a woman whose cells were taken without permission and continue to be used for profit. This Henrietta Lacks timeline explains what happened to Henrietta Lacks and her cells. Learn more about the aftermath of her death and getting recognition for her contribution to science in the Henrietta Lacks timeline.

Johnny Pleasant: The Widowed Father of Henrietta Lacks

Who was the father of Henrietta Lacks? How did John Randall Pleasant handle his large family after his wife died? Why did Johnny Pleasant move the family away from Roanoke? Johnny Pleasant was the father of Henrietta Lacks and her nine siblings. His family lived on the Lacks family tobacco farm near Clover, Virginia. Learn about Johnny Pleasant and his large extended family.

Roland Pattillo: The Doctor Behind Henrietta Lacks Day

Why does the city of Atlanta have a Henrietta Lacks Day? Who is the doctor that advocated for that recognition? Where is Dr. Roland Pattillo now? Roland Pattillo is a gynecologist that organized the first HeLa conference. He was also one of the few African-American students that studied under the doctor that responsible for the spread of HeLa cell cultures. Learn more about Roland Pattillo and his efforts to recognize Henrietta Lacks.

Rebecca Skloot: Introduced to HeLa Cells in High School

Who is author Rebecca Skloot? Where did she get the idea for her book about Henrietta Lacks? How did Skloot research and write the book that went on to become an HBO miniseries? Rebecca Skloot is the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. She studied biology in college and became a science reporter before writing the book. Learn about author Rebecca Skloot and what sparked her interest in Henrietta Lacks and her amazing cells.

Lacks Town: Home of Henrietta Lacks and Many Family Members

What is Lacks Town? How many relatives of Henrietta Lacks lived there? Are Lacks Town and the town of Clover, Virginia still around? Lacks Town is the ancestral farm of the Lacks family. It has a single road and is across a two-lane road from Clover, Virginia. Learn about Lacks Town and the changes to Clover since Henrietta Lacks was alive.

Richard Wesley TeLinde: Why Did He Take Henrietta’s Cells?

Who was the gynecologist that excised tissue from Henrietta Lacks? Why did Richard Wesley TeLinde want her cells? How did TeLinde use the cells for research? Richard Wesley TeLinde was a well-known gynecologist and the superior of the doctor treating Henrietta Lacks at Johns Hopkins. Dr. TeLinde was interested in the treatment and progression of carcinoma in situ, meaning noninvasive carcinoma. Learn about how Richard Wesley TeLinde’s research interests changed the course of science.

What Happened to Henrietta Lacks’ Children? Life After Loss

Who were Henrietta Lacks’ children? How did they cope with the tragic death of their mother? What happened to Henrietta Lacks’ kids as they got older? Henrietta Lacks’ children are Lawrence, Elsie, Sonny, Deborah, and Joe. After her death, Henrietta Lacks’ kids were cared for in part by cousins that turned out to be abusive. Read about Henrietta Lacks’ children, what happened to them in the decades after she passed, and how the use of HeLa cells affected them.

Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield: The Litigious Conman

Who was Dr. Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield? Was he really a doctor? Was he really a lawyer? Was he really a member of the aristocracy? Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield was just a conman, who claimed to be related to Henrietta Lacks. He posed as both a lawyer and a doctor after already serving time in prison for fraud. Learn more about Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield, his cons, and his many lawsuits.

HeLa Cells, HPV, and the Future of Human Evolution

How have HeLa cells been used to understand viruses? What is the connection between HeLa cells, HPV, and cancer progression? Did Henrietta suffer from HPV-18? HPV-18 is a particularly severe form of HPV. After examining original tissue from Henrietta Lacks, HPV of this strain was found. Studies of HeLa cells and HPV can explain the fatal progression of Henrietta Lacks’s cancer. Read more about HeLa cells, HPV, and theories about immortality using HeLa cells.

Psychological Manipulation of Korean War American POWs

Have you heard of the Korean War’s American POWs? Did you see them as defectors or victims of psychological manipulation? How were the same techniques used for sales applied to war? Persuasion tactics and the psychology of commitment were used to solicit collaboration with the Chinese Communists. Learn about the psychological manipulation of Korean War American POWs.