Alice Ball: The Pioneering African American Chemist Behind Leprosy Treatment

Alice Ball was a remarkable pioneer in the field of chemistry, whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the treatment of Hansen's disease, commonly known as leprosy. Despite facing significant challenges as an African American woman in the early 20th century, her contributions have only recently begun to receive the recognition they deserve.

Who Was Alice Ball?

Alice Ball was an African American chemist who developed the first successful treatment for those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy). She made history as the first African American and the first woman to earn a M.S. degree in chemistry from the College of Hawaii (now the University of Hawaii). Unfortunately, her life was cut short at the age of 24, and she did not live to see the full impact of her pioneering discovery.

Early Life and Family

Alice Augusta Ball was born on July 24, 1892, in Seattle, Washington, to Laura, a photographer, and James P. Ball, Jr., a lawyer. She was the middle child, with two older brothers and a younger sister. Her grandfather, James P. Ball Sr., was a prominent photographer and one of the first to practice daguerreotype photography. The family led a middle-class lifestyle, experiencing both the challenges and opportunities of life in the early 1900s.

In 1903, the family moved from Seattle to Honolulu in hopes of alleviating James Ball Sr.'s arthritis. However, after his passing shortly after the move, the family returned to Seattle. Alice excelled in her studies and graduated from Seattle High School in 1910, later earning multiple graduate degrees from the University of Washington and the College of Hawaii.

Leprosy Treatment – The Ball Method

After completing her undergraduate studies in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy, Alice Ball transferred to the College of Hawaii, where she became the first African American woman to graduate with a M.S. degree in chemistry in 1915. Soon after, she was offered a teaching and research position, making her the institution’s first female chemistry instructor at just 23 years old.

As a laboratory researcher, Ball focused on developing an effective treatment for Hansen’s disease. Her innovative approach led to the creation of the first injectable leprosy treatment using oil from the chaulmoogra tree. This oil had previously been used as a topical agent but was not very effective. Ball's scientific rigor allowed her to isolate the oil into fatty acid components, creating a water-soluble injectable form. This method, later known as the "Ball Method," was used successfully on thousands of patients for over thirty years.

Death and Discovery Credit Stolen

Tragically, Alice Ball passed away on December 31, 1916, at the young age of 24 due to complications from inhaling chlorine gas in a lab accident. During her lifetime, she did not witness the full impact of her work. Following her death, the president of the College of Hawaii continued her research without acknowledging her contributions and even referred to the treatment as the “Dean Method,” effectively stealing her legacy.

It wasn't until 1922 that Dr. Harry T. Hollmann, an assistant surgeon who had encouraged Ball's research, published a paper giving her the credit she deserved. Despite this acknowledgment, Ball remained largely forgotten in the annals of scientific history for decades.

Long Overdue Accolades

In recent years, Alice Ball's contributions have begun to receive the recognition they deserve. In 2000, the University of Hawaii-Mānoa honored her with a bronze plaque in front of a chaulmoogra tree on campus. Additionally, former Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, Mazie Hirono, declared February 29 to be “Alice Ball Day.” In 2007, the university posthumously awarded her the Regents’ Medal of Distinction.

In 2017, scholar Paul Wermager established The Alice Augusta Ball Endowed Scholarship to support students pursuing degrees in chemistry, biology, or microbiology. He emphasized the importance of Ball's work, noting that she overcame racial and gender barriers to become one of the few African American women to earn a master's degree in chemistry.

Key Takeaways