Downtown in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Dorothy Johnson Vaughan

(1910-2008)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 10, 2022

1. Dorothy Johnson Vaughan Marker

Inscription. Dorothy Vaughan, mathematician, graduated from Wilberforce University and was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. During World War Il she left her job as a teacher to work for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), later NASA, at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory near Hampton. She was assigned to the West Area Computing Unit, a group of African American women responsible for processing aeronautical research data. In 1949, Vaughan became NACA's first African American supervisor. She excelled at the FORTRAN computer programming language and contributed to the Scout launch vehicle project, a crucial component of the space program, before retiring in 1971.

Erected 2019 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-173.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.

Location. 37° 1.459′ N, 76° 20.634′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Settlers Landing Road (U.S. 60) and South King Street, on the right when traveling east on Settlers Landing Road. Marker attached to an exterior column of the Virginia Air & Space Science Center.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton VA 23669, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mary Winston Jackson (here, next to this marker); Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Katherine G. Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Langley Field: Discovering Aerospace (a few steps from this marker); Langley Field: Creating an Air Force (within shouting distance of this marker); Hampton (within shouting distance of this marker); Ninteenth-Century Hampton (within shouting distance of this marker); Twentieth-Century Hampton (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Also see . . . Dorothy Vaughan Biography. (Submitted on June 12, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 10, 2022

2. Dorothy Johnson Vaughan Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 225 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.