Ruth Ella Moore Biography

First African American to earn a PhD in natural sciences.

scientist Jul 31, 2024 0 73 Add to Reading List

Name	Ruth Ella Moore
Parents	William E. Moore and Margaret Moore
Area	Bacteriology, Microbiology
Known for	Studies on tuberculosis

Birth and Family:

Ruth born on May 19, 1903 in Columbus Ohio. She was the daughter of William E. Moore who was an artist and his wife Margaret who encouraged her to pursue higher education.

Education:

Ohio State University is where she went through her undergraduate studies that awarded her a Bachelor of Science degree in 1926, which followed by a Master of Science degree the next year. That same institution became the seat for further studies, and as from 1933, she made history as the first African American to earn a PhD in bacteriology. Her doctoral dissertation was based on the tubercle bacillus, which constituted an important public health problem at that time.

While still in college she taught hygiene and English at Tennessee State University in Nashville.

Employment:

She then joined Howard University faculty after completing her Ph.D., Washington D.C., where she became a professor of bacteriology before eventually heading the Bacteriology department there. During this period, Dr. Moore conducted significant tuberculosis research among others related to microbiology subjects.

In 1960 moore was promoted to associate professor of microbiology. Retiring in 1973, she had been holding the honorary title of associate professor emeritus of microbiology since then. She also investigated blood groups and enterobacteria while she was at Howard University Medical School. She retired from both bodies: American Public Health Association and American Society for Microbiology back in 1971.

Trajectory:

A pioneer in the domain of bacteriology, she was acknowledged for her work on communicable disorders particularly tuberculosis. She also became one of the first African Americans to publish research on tuberculosis, immunology, dental caries, response of gastric microorganisms to antibiotics and blood type determination in Afro-Americans in eminent scientific journals.

Moore was also actively involved in training future scientists, making her a mentor for many Howard students.

Death:

Ruth Ella Moore died in Rockville, Maryland on July 19, 1994.

Summary:

She is an illustrious American bacteriologist and microbiologist who is identified as being the first black American who achieved doctorate in bacteriology. She had an impressive career at Howard University where she conducted significant investigations into tuberculosis disease.