St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Readers Rapidly Identify Renowned Scientist

A crowdsourcing campaign on social media results in identification of a previously unnamed female scientist in photo from 1940s.

May 22, 2020

When the Science History Institute took to social media asking for the public’s help in identifying five females in a photo taken in the 1940s at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, we never imagined it would only take 72 hours for someone to recognize one of the pictured women. But that’s exactly what happened after an article was published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article (PDF) >>

The group portrait shows the late Michael Somogyi (back row, center), a renowned physician and biochemist at Washington University, and five women identified simply as “female laboratory assistants.”

“I absolutely love this; you made my day,” said Terry Karl, the daughter of Irene Karl (back row, right). “My mother was a real path breaker.”

Indeed, “path breaker” comes closer than “laboratory assistant” in describing Dr. Karl. Born in 1915 to Hungarian immigrants in Milwaukee, she earned a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and became an authority on muscle metabolism and a pioneer in understanding diabetes and sepsis.

More News

large group pf people looking at an exhibit
news

Science History Institute Unveils New Mineral Exhibition at Packed Opening Celebration

Ribbon cutting officially opens Earthly Matters and brand-new gift shop, marking the completion of the Institute’s major lobby renovation.

man doing research in a library
news

Applications for 2026–2027 Beckman Center Fellowships Now Open

Researchers can apply by January 15 for various long- and short-term programs, including two-year curatorial fellowships.

wooden slide rule
news

Institute’s History of Molecular Biology Collection Featured in ‘Science,’ ‘Nautilus,’ ‘C&EN’

Press coverage highlights the significance of the recently acquired archive that includes Rosalind Franklin’s famous DNA image known as Photo 51 and her personal slide rule.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.