Alice Ball
Alice Augusta Ball was an African American chemist who developed an improved treatment for Hansen’s disease, historically known as leprosy. At just 23 years old, she created a method that made chaulmoogra oil easier to administer through injection (Wong, 22). Her discovery became an important treatment option before newer medication was introduced in the 1940s. Despite her groundbreaking discovery, Ball died at age 24, and her contributions were initially overlooked (National Women’s History Museum, 2022). Today, Ball is remembered for her scientific innovation and for overcoming barriers faced by women and African Americans in science.
Ball was born on July 24th, 1892, in Seattle, Washington. She was born into a family that values education and intellectual achievement (Wong, 2022). She later earned a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy from the University of Washington, as well as coauthoring a paper published in the Journal of American Chemical Society, before pursuing graduate studies in Hawai’i (National Women’s History Museum, 2022). In 1915, she earned a master’s degree in chemistry at the College of Hawai’i, becoming the institution's first African American graduate and the first woman to earn a master’s degree in chemistry (University of Hawaiʻi System News, 2020). She later became the college’s first African American woman chemistry instructor (University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, 2017). These accomplishments were particularly important during a period when racial and gender barriers restricted opportunities for many women and African Americans in higher education and scientific professions.
During the early twentieth century, chaulmoogra oil was used to treat Hansen’s disease, but its thick consistency made injections difficult and painful. Hansen’s disease was a serious medical concern because it affected the skin and peripheral nerves, and individuals who were diagnosed with it frequently experienced stigma and discrimination in addition to physical symptoms. Individuals who were diagnosed with Hansen’s disease were forcibly relocated to isolated settlements in Hawai’i and these policies led to the separation of families and social isolation. Therefore, Physician Harry Hollman recruited Ball to investigate ways to improve the treatment (Wong, 2022).
Ball developed a method to isolate fatty acids from chaulmoogra oil and convert them into ethyl esters, making the preparation easier to inject (University of Hawaiʻi System News, 2024). This technique became known as the Ball Method and provided an important option for treatment before newer medication became available in the 1940s (University of Hawaiʻi System News, 2026).
Ball died on December 31st, 1916 before she could fully publish her findings (National Women’s History Museum, 2022). After her death, Arthur Dean continued the research without initially giving Ball adequate credit Physician Harry Hollman later acknowledged her contribution, helping establish the name “Ball Method” (Wong, 2022).
Today, Ball is recognized for her contributions to chemistry and medicine. The University of Hawai’i established a scholarship in her honor and Hawai’i designated February 28th as Alice Augusta Ball Day (University of Hawaiʻi System News, 2017). In 2026, the Ball Method received recognition as a National Historic Chemical Landmark (University of Hawaiʻi System News, 2026).
Alice Ball’s research improved the treatment for Hansen’s disease and demonstrated the power of chemistry to address medical challenges (University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, 2017). Although her achievements were initially overlooked, her legacy now inspires future scientists and highlights the importance of recognizing women and underrepresented groups in STEM (National Women’s History Museum, 2022). Her story demonstrates that scientific progress depends not only on discovery but also on ensuring that researchers are able to receive appropriate credit for their work. By remembering Alice Ball, we recognize her scientific innovation and the importance of making the history of science more inclusive.
Works Cited:
A woman who changed the world | University of Hawai‘i Foundation. (2017). Uhfoundation.Org. https://uhfoundation.org/impact/students/woman-who-changed-world
Alice Ball. (2022). National Women’s History Museum.
News, U. H. (n.d.). UH celebrates Alice Augusta Ball Day in Hawaiʻi, february 28 | university of Hawaiʻi system news. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2022/02/28/alice-ball-day-february-28/
News, U. H. (2017, February 23). Scholarship honors pioneering chemist in fight against Hansen’s disease | university of Hawaiʻi system news. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2017/02/23/alice-ball-scholarship-honors-pioneering-chemist-in-fight-against-hansens-disease/
UH News. (2020, February 4). UH graduate honored alongside Madam Curie and Florence Nightingale. University of Hawaiʻi System News. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2020/02/04/alice-ball-honored-london-building-facade/
UH News. (2024, February 29). Alice Ball: 1St African-American woman chemist, UH alumna celebrated. University of Hawaiʻi System News. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/02/29/alice-ball-celebrated-2024/
UH News. (2026, February 26). ‘Ball method’ declared national historic landmark at Alice Ball celebration. University of Hawaiʻi System News. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/02/26/ball-method-national-landmark/
Wong, K. M. (2022, March 23). The trailblazing black woman chemist who discovered a treatment for leprosy. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-trailblazing-black-woman-chemist-who-discovered-a-treatment-for-leprosy-180979772/
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