Dorothy Vaughan
An American mathematician who worked for NASA and was one of the agency's first African-American managers.
Most quoted
"I saw the writing on the wall and I got into the computer business. I'm not going to sit around and wait for them to tell me what to do."
— from Biography/Interviews, 1960
"Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men."
— from Interview, 1980
"I always said, 'If you're going to do something, do it right.' Especially if it's sending someone into space."
— from Fictionalized accounts/interpretations
All quotes by Dorothy Vaughan (374)
We were pioneers, even if we didn't know it at the time.
I never gave up.
We were all just trying to get the job done.
I taught them everything I knew.
It was a privilege to be a part of something so important.
We had to be resourceful.
I believed in the power of the human mind.
We were making history, one equation at a time.
The sky was the limit.
I always encouraged my team to learn new things.
We faced challenges, but we overcame them.
My work was my passion.
I was proud of what we accomplished.
We were all part of something bigger than ourselves.
I am still here and still working hard. The work is interesting and challenging.
Sometimes I feel like I'm swimming upstream, but I'm determined to make a difference.
The computers are coming, and we must be ready. We must learn these new machines.
My children are my greatest joy. They keep me grounded and give me strength.
The struggle for equality is a long one, but we must never give up hope.
I believe in the power of education. It is the key to unlocking potential.
Contemporaries of Dorothy Vaughan
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Dorothy Vaughan (1910–2008).