The World's Best Book Summaries
Who were the women of Hidden Figures? Were the Hidden Figures real women? Yes, they were real! The Hidden Figures main characters, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson, were all real women who contributed to both the war effort and later to NACA (NASA) in the journey to space. Read more about the women of Hidden Figures, and how they overcame obstacles to make important discoveries in science and space travel.
Are there still unsolved murder cases in Osage County? Was the conspiracy completely unmasked? The Osage murder investigation was officially closed with the conviction of William Hale and others in 1926. But Osage community members believe that those who were convicted weren’t the only perpetrators and that many deaths in Osage are unsolved murders that were part of the conspiracy. Read more to learn about the not-so-closed case of the Osage murders.
What’s the history of the Osage tribe? What was the source of their wealth? How did their wealth make them a target? The Osage tribe lived on land on which oil was discovered and drilled. In the 1920s, their wealth—or, rather, the greed of those who coveted their wealth—led to what became known as the Reign of Terror. Read more to understand what happened to the Osage tribe.
Who were NASA’s Hidden Figures? Why were they considered “hidden” and what contributions did they make? NASA’s Hidden Figures are brought to light in the book Hidden Figures. The book focuses on three outstanding women—though of course, they’re not the only ones—as the unsung heroes of space travel. Working behind the scenes as mathematicians and engineers, NASA’s Hidden Figures are part of what made space travel possible.
Who was Dorothy Hoover, and how did she contribute to changing the culture and rules at NASA? How did Dorothy Hoover help open doors for women, both black and white, to advance at NASA? Dorothy Hoover was a physicist and mathematician. One of the first black women hired as a human computer at NASA, Dorothy went on to co-publish a paper on wing design for aircraft. Her contribution helped make it possible for women to advance in NASA, once higher-ups saw the work the women were doing, and what they were capable of. Read more to find out how the
Who was Rita Smith? What was her connection to the Osage murders? Rita Smith and her husband Bill were murdered in 1923 after their house exploded. Rita’s brother-in-law and others had conspired to steal the family’s money, and nothing was going to stop them. Read more about Rita Smith and the larger conspiracy that resulted in multiple murders in Rita’s family and others.
When did NACA become NASA, and why? What were NACA Nuts, and how did they help change the culture at NACA (NASA)? NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, became NASA in 1958. NACA Nuts was a nickname for new hires at NACA (NASA) as the organization turned to defense and space exploration. In their quest to hire the best people possible, NACA (NASA) hired people from all over the country. As a result, the culture slowly began to shift toward a more equal workplace environment, due in part to less tolerance for segregation from Northern hires, and the persistence
What was the Osage Reign of Terror? Why did it start, and how did it end? The Osage Reign of Terror occurred in the 1920s in Oklahoma. It was defined by a series of murders that turned out to be a conspiracy designed to steal the wealth of the Osage tribe. Continue reading to learn about this dark episode in American history.
Where was Newsome Park, and who lived there? What were residents of Newsome Park Known for? Newsome Park was a community in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where many black NASA employees settled during World War II and the post-war period. In the middle of a segregated city, the residents of Newsome Park formed a tight-knit community, which is highlighted in the book Hidden Figures.
Who was Miriam Mann, and what did she do? How did Miriam Mann help dismantle segregation at NASA? Miriam Mann was a mathematician and a member of West Computing Group. Miriam Mann played an important part in helping achieve equality amongst the computers, and was known for her ongoing protest: removing the offensive “colored computers” sign in her workplace.