In the 1870s, Williamina Fleming left Scotland for the U.S. with her husband. Soon after, he abandoned her—leaving her alone in her early twenties and expecting a child. To support herself, Williamina found work as a housekeeper for Edward Pickering, Director of the Harvard College Observatory.
One day, frustrated with his male assistants, Pickering reportedly said, “My Scottish maid could do better.” He gave Williamina a chance—and she proved him right.
In 1881, Williamina became the first of the Harvard Computers, a team of women who mapped the stars by studying glass plate photographs of the night sky. Within a few years, she rose to curator of astronomical photographs, overseeing a dozen women and leading important research.
Williamina discovered hundreds of stars, nebulae, and novae, and cataloged thousands more. She earned awards and worldwide recognition, turning a life of hardship into one of scientific success.
Her story reminds us that brilliance can come from the most unexpected places—if given the opportunity.
