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Alice Augusta Ball — Historical photograph
Historical photograph. Alice Augusta Ball, 1915; University of Hawaiʻi via Wikimedia Commons; photographer unknown. Image credit & source

Chemistry · Medicine · Public health

Alice Augusta Ball

1892–1916

STEMUS

Ball developed a chemical process that made compounds from chaulmoogra oil usable as an injectable treatment for Hansen’s disease. Working at the College of Hawaiʻi, she solved a practical problem in medicine. Her contribution was initially appropriated by others, and recognition of the Ball Method came later.[1],[2]

Read this story

Ball developed a chemical process that made compounds from chaulmoogra oil usable as an injectable treatment for Hansen’s disease. Working at the College of Hawaiʻi, she solved a practical problem in medicine. Her contribution was initially appropriated by others, and recognition of the Ball Method came later.[1],[2]

Local connection. Pacific-region connection through Seattle and Honolulu; no direct Bay Area service is established in this profile.

Impact reached: People receiving Hansen’s disease treatment in Hawaiʻi and beyond. (Impact describes who was reached; it is not a place of residence.)

Inquiry & making

Inquiry and making prompt

Why might the way a material dissolves matter? Observe teacher-prepared oil and water in a sealed container.

Places

Where Alice was born, had roots or studied, and worked — distinguished from where their impact reached.

Born
Seattle, Washington
Roots / education
Seattle, Washington; Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Worked
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
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Mapped places for Alice Augusta Ball
RelationshipDocumented placeMap pointSources
BirthplaceSeattle, WashingtonSeattle city, WACensus representative point[1][2]
Roots / educationSeattle, WashingtonSeattle city, WACensus representative point[1][2]
Roots / educationHonolulu, HawaiʻiUrban Honolulu CDP, HICensus representative point[1][2]
WorkHonolulu, HawaiʻiUrban Honolulu CDP, HICensus representative point[1][2]

Timeline

  1. 1892

    Born — Seattle, Washington[2]

  2. 1916

    Died[2]

Gallery

Portrait only in this edition; no reuse-supported contextual media has been verified for this figure yet.

Alice Augusta Ball: Historical photograph
Alice Augusta Ball — portraitHistorical photograph.Credit: Alice Augusta Ball, 1915; University of Hawaiʻi via Wikimedia Commons; photographer unknownLicense / rights: Public domain in the United States, according to the inspected Wikimedia Commons file record.Source recordOriginal-quality file

References

  1. [1]
    American Chemical Society: Alice Ball landmark

    Supports: Ball Method, chemical modification, treatment and recognition.

  2. [2]
    University of Hawaiʻi: Alice Ball honored

    Supports: Birthplace, Hawaiʻi connection and 1892–1916 life dates.

Last reviewed 2026-11-08 · Initial research edition · Record ID alice-ball. A curated, source-informed article — not openly editable and not independently scholar-reviewed. Corrections process.