Klara von Neumann: The Computer Pioneer Erased by History

Welcome back to Almost Famous: Lost Heroes and Forgotten Legends! Today, we're uncovering the incredible story of a pivotal figure whose profound impact on computing has, for too long, been overlooked: Klara Dán von Neumann.

In this episode, we spotlight Klara, whom we consider arguably the most overlooked person in the entire history of computing. She is credited with writing what's regarded as the world's first algorithm intended for a machine and the world's first modern computer program. Every computer program running today descends from the code she penned over 70 years ago. Klara's story is a classic example of the Matilda Effect, a systemic practice where women's groundbreaking work is downplayed, attributed to male colleagues, or simply left unrecognized. This phenomenon is named after 19th-century suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage, who tirelessly protested the erasure of women's intellectual achievements.

The Injustice of Erasure

Despite their monumental work, Klara and the other women who programmed the ENIAC—including Betty Snyder Holberton, Kay McNulty, Marlyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, and Fran Bilas—were not invited to the ENIAC's formal dedication or the celebratory dinner in February 1946. Their groundbreaking efforts were simply not mentioned in official accounts, reducing them to ""invisible technicians"". Klara's pivotal work was often described as merely ""help"" to her famous husband, diminishing her inventive force.

Other Hidden Figures of STEM

This pattern of unacknowledged contributions is sadly common:

• Rosalind Franklin: Her X-ray diffraction work, including Photo 51, was critical to determining DNA's double-helix structure. Yet, James Watson and Francis Crick allegedly used her data without permission and received the 1962 Nobel Prize.
• Lise Meitner: This Austrian-Swedish physicist, who theorized nuclear fission, was notoriously overlooked when her colleague Otto Hahn alone received the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She famously refused to work on the Manhattan Project due to her moral stance.
• Esther Lederberg: Her foundational work in bacterial genetics, including the replica plating technique, was largely credited to her husband, Joshua Lederberg, who received the Nobel Prize. Esther never even held a tenured position.
• Sophie Germain: She made significant contributions to elasticity theory and number theory, even winning a prize from the French Academy of Sciences, but was barred from formal study due to her gender.
• Alice Ball: Discovered an injectable form of chaulmoogra oil to treat leprosy, which was later published under her department head's name as ""Dean's method"".

Reclaiming Herstory, Building the Future

The Matilda Effect continues to manifest today through fewer citations for women's work, underrepresentation in awards, and lack of leadership positions. Recognizing the achievements of women like Klara is crucial for fostering a more inclusive, accurate, and truly reflective future for STEM.

Join us in this ongoing effort! Do you know other overlooked historical figures who deserve their story told? Send us your mystery suggestions!

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Until next time, keep exploring!

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