Angie Turner King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Angie Turner King
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Angie Lena Turner
December 9, 1905 Elkhorn, West Virginia, U.S.
|
| Died | February 28, 2004 (aged 98) Institute, West Virginia, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | |
| Spouse(s) | Robert Elemore King |
| Children | 5 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields |
|
| Institutions |
|
| Notable students |
|
Angie Lena Turner King (December 9, 1905 – February 28, 2004) was an amazing American chemist, mathematician, and teacher. She taught chemistry and math at West Virginia State High School. Later, she became a professor at West Virginia State College. This college is now known as West Virginia State University.
Angie Turner King was born in Elkhorn, West Virginia, in 1905. This was a time when communities were segregated, meaning Black and white people were kept separate. She grew up in a coal-mining town.
She had a tough childhood. Her mother passed away when Angie was only eight years old. She graduated from high school at age 14 in 1919. Her teachers saw her talent and encouraged her to go to college.
She first went to Bluefield Colored Institute. Then she transferred to West Virginia Collegiate Institute. She worked hard at different jobs to pay for her schooling. In 1927, she graduated with high honors. She earned a degree in chemistry and mathematics.
After college, she started teaching at West Virginia State High School. She also went to graduate school during the summers. In 1931, she earned a master's degree in physical chemistry from Cornell University.
After teaching high school for eight years, she became a professor at West Virginia State College. She made sure her lab was top-notch for her students. During World War II, she even taught chemistry to soldiers. Later, she earned her PhD in education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1955.
Angie Turner King was a mentor to many famous students. These included Katherine Johnson, a mathematician from the movie Hidden Figures. She also taught Margaret Strickland Collins, an expert on insects, and Jasper Brown Jeffries, who worked on the Manhattan Project. She led the Natural Resources and Mathematics department at West Virginia State College before retiring in 1980.
Contents
Early Life and College Years
Angie Lena Turner was born on December 9, 1905. Her hometown was Elkhorn, West Virginia. This was a segregated coal-mining area. Her parents, William and Laura Turner, were from Virginia. She had two siblings, Sylvia and Irving.
Her grandparents had been slaves in Virginia. After they were freed, they received land and a log cabin. Angie's childhood was difficult. Her mother died when she was eight. She then lived with her grandmother for a while.
Later, she lived with her father. He couldn't read or write, but he always told her to do well in school. Her father died in 1927 in a mining accident.
Angie finished high school when she was just 14 years old. Her good grades made her teachers suggest college. She first attended Bluefield Colored Institute. Then she moved to West Virginia Collegiate Institute.
To pay for her studies, Angie worked hard. She was a waitress and washed dishes. In 1927, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. She earned high honors in both chemistry and mathematics.
A Career in Education
Angie King started teaching chemistry and math at West Virginia State High School. This was a special high school connected to the college. She spent her summers studying at Cornell University. She paid for her own tuition.
In 1931, she earned her master's degree from Cornell. Her research was about how tannic acid and iron oxide interact. She also helped with student activities, like directing a high school play. She taught at the high school for eight years.
Then, she became an associate professor at West Virginia State College. She immediately improved the science lab. She wanted her students to know what a "real laboratory" was like. She also sponsored a sorority group for college students. In 1939, she took more classes at the University of Chicago.
During World War II, West Virginia State College helped train soldiers. This was part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). Angie King taught chemistry to these soldiers. This program helped make sure there would be enough college graduates to become military officers after the war. West Virginia State was one of only six historically Black colleges to have an ASTP unit.
In the early 1950s, King went to the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her PhD in general education in 1955. Her main research was about old algebra textbooks.
Angie King was a great mentor to her students. She taught Margaret Strickland Collins, who became an expert on insects. She also taught Katherine Johnson, the famous mathematician from NASA. And she taught Jasper Brown Jeffries, who worked on the Manhattan Project. Many of her former students said she was their favorite teacher. Katherine Johnson called her "a wonderful teacher—bright, caring, and very rigorous."
Later Life and Legacy
By 1969, Angie King was in charge of the Natural Resources and Mathematics department at West Virginia State College. In the 1970s, she traveled to Africa. She visited missions and learned about the lives of women in countries like Zaire, Kenya, and Ethiopia. She later gave talks about what she learned.
She also led the West Virginia Governor's Commission on the Status of Women. She even spoke with famous activist Gloria Steinem at a conference. Angie King retired from West Virginia State in 1980. She continued to live on the college campus. In 1992, the school gave her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. She passed away on February 28, 2004.
Personal Life
Family Life
Angie Turner married Robert Elemore King on June 9, 1946. They had five daughters together. Angie raised her daughters while working and continuing her studies. Robert passed away in 1958.
Awards and Groups
Angie King was very active in many groups. She edited the college's alumni magazine. In 1954, she was named the first West Virginia State Alumna of the Year. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women. She served as president of its West Virginia division.
She was a leader in Beta Kappa Chi, an honor society. She even became the editor-in-chief of their bulletin. In 1966, Beta Kappa Chi gave her a Distinguished Service Award. She was also part of the American Chemical Society and other science groups.
Angie King was a founding member of the Alpha Omicron Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. This group was started in 1929. She was president of this chapter from 1935 to 1937. In 1968, the sorority honored her with a special citation.
See also
In Spanish: Angie Turner King para niños
