The Science History Institute is proud to celebrate the many contributions of women in science all year long, but especially during Women’s History Month, which is held each March to commemorate and reflect on the often-overlooked impact women have had on American history.
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Dr. Michael Somogyi (back row, center) and Dr. Irene E. Karl (back row, right) are pictured with four unidentified female colleagues at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, circa 1942–1943.
Science History Institute
Through our digital collections, programs and events, historical biographies, Distillations content, and other initiatives, we will continue to share the stories of women in science.
Sadly but perhaps not surprisingly, some of these stories include female scientists whose work has been obscured or even forgotten. A good example is this photo. Until May 2020 only Dr. Michael Somogyi (1883–1971) was identified by name; the five women he’s pictured with were labeled simply as “female laboratory assistants.” But thanks to a social media crowdsourcing campaign launched during Women’s History Month in 2020, one of the unknown women has since been identified as Irene Karl (1915–2006), a renowned biochemist who was a pioneer in metabolic disorders.
Collections Highlights
Check out more women in science-related items from our digital collections, including images of female scientists, lab technicians, and other scientific workers, as well as an array of materials related to women’s health. And some really cool stamps.
Women in Science Bios
Featured Women in Science
Featured Women in Science