Alice Ball

One interesting fact about Alice Ball is that she developed a more effective injectable form of chaulmoogra oil, which was the best treatment for leprosy at the time. She also became the first woman and first Black American to graduate with a master's degree from the College of Hawaii.

Chemist

July 24, 1892

December 31, 1916

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Alice Ball, an African-American chemist, pioneered the first effective treatment for leprosy, known as the “Ball Method.” She transformed chaulmoogra oil, which had been the primary treatment for the disease for centuries, into a more efficient injectable form. This innovative treatment remained the most successful approach to combating leprosy until the 1940s, laying the foundation for further research and the development of new treatments.

In addition to her work on leprosy, Ball also conducted research on plant properties and devised a successful method for isolating ergosterol, which was used to treat various diseases. Despite her significant accomplishments, her contributions were initially overlooked. However, in 2000, the Hawaii State Legislature posthumously recognized and honored her with a Medal of Honor.

In 1915, Ball made history as the first woman and first African-American to earn a master’s degree from the College of Hawaii.