Janez Lawson | |
---|---|
![]() Lawson in 1953 | |
Born | February 22, 1930 |
Died | November 24, 1990 | (aged 60)
Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
Employer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Janez Yvonne Lawson Bordeaux (February 22, 1930 – November 24, 1990) was an American chemical engineer who became one of NASA's computers. She was the first African-American hired into a technical position at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She programmed the IBM 701.
Lawson was born on February 22, 1930, in Santa Monica, California. [1] Her parents were Hilliard Lawson and Bernice Lawson. [1] She attended Belmont High School and graduated in 1948. [1] Lawson completed a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1952. [2] She was a straight-A student and President of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. [3]
Despite her qualifications, Lawson could not get work as a chemical engineer because of her race and gender. She saw an advertisement for a job as a computer in Pasadena. [2] There was discussion about whether or not she should get the job, but Macie Roberts stood up for her. [4] Lawson got the job, and in 1953 was one of the first Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees to be sent to a training course at IBM. [2] Lawson was the first African-American hired into a technical position at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. [5] She was promoted to mathematician in 1954. [1] She became skilled at programming during the course, using a keypunch and learning speedcoding. [2] Lawson lived in Los Angeles and would commute for over an hour to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory every day. [3] [6] Lawson joined the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation in the late 1950s. [1]
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Janez Lawson | |
---|---|
![]() Lawson in 1953 | |
Born | February 22, 1930 |
Died | November 24, 1990 | (aged 60)
Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
Employer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Janez Yvonne Lawson Bordeaux (February 22, 1930 – November 24, 1990) was an American chemical engineer who became one of NASA's computers. She was the first African-American hired into a technical position at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She programmed the IBM 701.
Lawson was born on February 22, 1930, in Santa Monica, California. [1] Her parents were Hilliard Lawson and Bernice Lawson. [1] She attended Belmont High School and graduated in 1948. [1] Lawson completed a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1952. [2] She was a straight-A student and President of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. [3]
Despite her qualifications, Lawson could not get work as a chemical engineer because of her race and gender. She saw an advertisement for a job as a computer in Pasadena. [2] There was discussion about whether or not she should get the job, but Macie Roberts stood up for her. [4] Lawson got the job, and in 1953 was one of the first Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees to be sent to a training course at IBM. [2] Lawson was the first African-American hired into a technical position at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. [5] She was promoted to mathematician in 1954. [1] She became skilled at programming during the course, using a keypunch and learning speedcoding. [2] Lawson lived in Los Angeles and would commute for over an hour to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory every day. [3] [6] Lawson joined the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation in the late 1950s. [1]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link) CS1 maint: others (
link)
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)