Stolen Science: Thirteen Untold Stories of Scientists and Inventors Almost Written out of History

by Ella Schwartz

Stolen Science is a compendium of stories of uncredited scientists and inventors throughout the ages.

Over the centuries, women, people from underrepresented communities, and immigrants overcame prejudices and social obstacles to make remarkable discoveries in science--but they weren't the ones to receive credit in history books. People with more power, money, and prestige were remembered as the inventor of the telephone, the scientists who decoded the structure of DNA, and the doctor who discovered the cause of yellow fever. This book aims to set the record straight and celebrate the nearly forgotten inventors and scientists who shaped our world today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Science, History, Childrens, Biography, Feminism

128 pages, Hardcover

Published August 31, 2021

About the author

Ella writes fiction and nonfiction books for young readers. She is always asking questions and trying to learn new things. The books she writes are for kids who are just as curious as she is.

Ella is the author of CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE? (Bloomsbury, 2019), STOLEN SCIENCE (Bloomsbury, 2020), IS IT OKAY TO PEE IN THE OCEAN? (Bloomsbury, 2020) and MAKE THIS! (National Geographic Kids, 2019).

In addition to writing books, Ella is a cybersecurity warrior interfacing with the U.S. federal government on strategic technology initiatives. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering from Columbia University.

When she's not working, writing, or training to run a marathon, she volunteers on outreach initiatives to promote women in science and improve science literacy.

Ella lives on Long Island, New York with her husband and three sons. Her favorite color is pink, but there is rarely anything pink in her house.

Visit Ella on her website, www.ellasbooks.com. Follow her on Twitter @ellaschwartz and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EllaSchwartz...

Reviews

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

HUGE fan of there being a book for children that:
a) teaches science
b) teaches who ACTUALLY invented that science
c) teaches the existence and pervasiveness of misogyny, racism, and general bigotry and discrimination to our most moldable minds

This book rules! End discussion.

---------------
pre-review

ready to get mad.

update: am furious.

review to come / 3.5 stars

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challenging myself to read as many review copies as possible this month because i'm addicted to projects!

ARC 1: spaceman of bohemia
ARC 2: in search of us
ARC 3: aerialists
ARC 4: the sound of drowning
ARC 5: unleaving
ARC 6: the other side of luck
ARC 7: romanov
ARC 8: the storm keeper's island
ARC 9: gut check
ARC 10: when force meets fate
ARC 11: sisters in hate
ARC 12: before i disappear
ARC 13: big time
ARC 14: stolen science

[Ella Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope everyone loves this book as much as I loved researching and writing it :)

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book that shares the stories of uncredited scientists and inventors whose discoveries impacted history. An excellent resource to have in the classroom. It’s so important that the right people deserve credits for their findings. The illustrations in this book are captivating! Love how Gaby designed each scientist to be shaped in drawings that represent their field.

[Eloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle-grade non-fiction.
Accounts of thirteen scientists whose work was credited to someone else as a result of their race or gender.

[Kristina Aziz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ella Schwartz highlights thirteen scientists that aren't old white men, even If old white men got the credit for their ideas. This book was described as middle grade nonfiction, but I have had a lot of fun reading about one scientist a night to my second grade child.
Early dismantling of stigmas and stereotypes about science and who's allowed to enjoy it is the key to seeing young girls and women flourish in STEM. This book, like many others, is a healthy start for any budding scientist

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I thought the profiles were fascinating and a lot of these people I have not heard of before. Second, there was a sources page! Thank-you Ella Schwartz for listing your sources! I have read a number of nonfiction children books that did not include sources. With that said, I am going to quibble about the title and the profiles.

With a title of "Stolen Science," I expect these scientists/inventors to have the works outright stolen from them and passed as the other person's work. That was not entirely true for some of these profiles. You could make it true for Rosalind Franklin, Alice Ball, Lise Meitner, and Antonio Meucci. I will say with Antonio Meucci some of it is circumstantial evidence that his work was taken. Some of these other scientists did not get the FULL recognition they deserved as well as credit.

I also noticed that the profiles that are in this book shared something else in common. While some of these scientists were highly educated and qualified, they came up with brand new concepts that were dismissed by established people at first. It also did not help that it was coming from people that were deemed as "outsiders" (women and immigrants). While it was not right for the established scientists to dismissed these people's works, it could explain some of the snubbing. Also, my understanding of academia is that it can be cutthroat in the race to get published and recognize. These scientists in this book came up with award winning ideas even though they were outsiders, which can cause jealousy from the insiders. You actually saw this with Anna Wessels Williams. Her work wasn't necessarily "stolen" it just that someone else rushed to be the first one published and got credit for the work.

That brings up another point about science. Multiple scientists could be researching the same topic, but they may not be working together or even invited to work together. This means someone could lose out and not get recognition. Should they probably, but there is another component to this. What I am about to say is going to put me in the minority, but you have to understand where I am coming from. I am a Catholic or a Christian and I believe the work I put it is supposed to be for the glory of God. That means I shouldn't necessarily care (I probably would care since I'm human) whether I get public recognition for the work I did, especially if my work solves a problem. While it would be nice to have recognition here on Earth, it is more important to solve a problem, instead of fighting who should get the credit. While this is conjecture on my part, that is what I felt was Anna Wessels Williams attitude as presented in the profile.

Verdict: This was a fascinating read!

[Kasey Giard]

I devoured this book. Seriously, I couldn’t get enough of these stories of men and woman who did these incredible things. Some of them knew that they could not (under current racist or sexist systems) receive credit for what they’d done. Others never stopped fighting for the recognition they deserved. I loved getting this opportunity to learn some of the real history of different scientific advancements, some of which I’d heard of or learned about in school, and learning that there was so much more to the story, and often someone I’d never heard of behind it all.

You don’t have to go back very far in my family to find my Italian relatives who emigrated to the US, so the story of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone really struck a deep chord with me. I found myself online reading articles and looking for more information about him.

The beginning of the book points out how there are few women scientists that most people can name off the top of their heads. You know, besides Marie Curie. I loved reading about these women who overcame steep prejudices to even get access to the field of science. While it was awful thinking about these people who were taken advantage of by their colleagues or a deliberately racist and/or sexist system, it was also inspiring to read about people who had such a passion for their work.

Some of the stories in STOLEN SCIENCE are about inventors who, because they were slaves, could not legally apply for or be listen on a patent, and therefore couldn’t be given credit for their work. This shouldn’t have surprised me, given what I know about that period in history. I wasn’t surprised exactly. I guess it just reinforced the gross wrong that slavery and racism was and is.

Reading STOLEN SCIENCE made me want to find other books like this. I want to read more books that celebrate little-known or overlooked scientists or inventors and to learn more about them. If you like nonfiction that explores the less well-known contributions that people have made to our world, check out this list celebrating Women’s History on Bookshop. You might also be interested in THE BOY FROM BUCHENWALD by Robbie Waisman or GIRL WARRIORS by Rachel Sarah.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz is a middle grade non fiction book. Over the centuries, women, people from underrepresented communities, and immigrants overcame prejudices and social obstacles to make remarkable discoveries in science-but they weren't the ones to receive credit in history books. People with more power, money, and prestige were remembered as the inventor of the telephone, the scientists who decoded the structure of DNA, and the doctor who discovered the cause of yellow fever. This book aims to set the record straight and celebrate the nearly forgotten inventors and scientists who shaped our world today.

Stolen Science is an interesting look at how great discoveries, inventions, and innovations have been mis credited over the years, although not always maliciously. I think that this was an engaging and interesting read, and teaches readers more about some individuals that had great impact in a variety of fields, and teaching them a bit about those fields along the way. While it does drive home the point that life is often not fair, and that certain people tend to get credit even though others do the hard work, which is sadly still often the case. The book also points out that hard work, continuing to learn and grow, and perseverance are important factors in the achievements these individuals made. I had read some of the stories previously, but they were well framed and I liked some of the additional details about their lives and families as well as the science or industry most affected by their work.

Dwelling on how those in marginalized groups were, and sadly are, treated in most arenas does not leave me with all that much hope after reading, even though more and more of this sort of information is being uncovered and shared has shed some light on the issues, but there will always be those looking to benefit from other's hard work and take advantage of those with less social standing in any way they can. So I left the book feeling more than a little discouraged, mostly because of how some of today's social issues mirror the same pattern of problems. However, perhaps if we keep pointing it out the next generation will make more progress than my generation, and those previous, have this far.

[Hannah Searles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just because most of the scientists who are well-known are white men doesn't mean that those are the only kinds of people who can be or have been scientists. Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz subverts that narrative by highlighting 13 individuals whose discoveries have impacted our lives, even if we don't know their names.

I really enjoyed the format of this book. There was a gorgeous illustration to introduce each chapter. The chapters gave a fair amount of detail, but the language was clear, and I think the author struck a good balance between making it understandable for children without overly diluting the science. After each biography, there's a section called "What's the Science?" that gives some additional background information. I think this would probably tend to be harder than most of my third graders could read independently, but I think that they would be able to comprehend fairly well if we read it out loud together.

There was a great variety of people and discoveries, across gender, race, and historical eras. I recognized some of the names but many were new to me, and the information was engaging and fascinating!

In the author's note, Schwartz mentions that this isn't meant as a cautionary tale about all the ways that people have been left out and marginalized. Rather, this is a celebration of all the ways that people have triumphed despite the numerous obstacles they had to face. Sharing their stories is a way to honor their memories and remind us that no matter who you are or where you come from, you are capable of great things.

I cannot wait to order this for my classroom library! I would recommend this for upper elementary-middle school, but I truly think all ages (even up to adults!) can and would enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kate Waggoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz. This middle grades nonfiction book will be published on August 31, 2021. All opinions are my own.

Women, immigrants, and people of color have often been underrepresented and discriminated against in the world of science. While underrepresented, these groups have made major contributions to science only they often didn't receive the credit. Schwartz shares the stories of several scientists whose work was stolen and credit given to others. Stories include the true inventor of the telephone as well as the woman responsible for the discovering the structure of DNA. Schwartz aims to set the record straight and give credit where credit is due.

I found this book to be super interesting and believe that it's incredibly important to share these stories. I will admit that I knew that the telephone wasn't invented by Alexander Graham Bell and, yet, I couldn't actually tell you the name of the man who invented it (I can now!). There are a few scientists included that I have actually heard about including Lise Meitner and Rosalind Franklin, but the majority of these stories were new to me. This reminds the reader that history is often written by those with power, wealth, and influence. Therefore, it's important to question and look deeper into stories. Not only did Schwartz walk through each scientist/inventor's story and explain how they reached their achievement and didn't receive the credit, but she also explains the actual science behind each invention/discovery. I found it all to be very interesting.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Review from Netgalley, but based on published edition]

I thought this was a thoughtfully constructed book if a bit simplistic in its details for its target audience.

While certainly high interest, I think it's worth noting that some of the stories here proclaim to be unknown or relatively unknown while featuring Marie Tharp, Chien-Shiung Wu, and Rosalind Franklin. They are all pretty well known and people have been talking about the Franklin theft for a LONG time. The author also vacillates between what is and isn't theft. The geologist working with Tharp to get the readings is not perceived to be the one who discovered the rift because she drafted the images, but Dr. Reed is a thief for doing an equivalent practice in medicine.

I appreciate that they were trying to highlight people who might not have gotten the attention they deserved in their time or today. Lise Meitner often gets put as a background character because more accomplished, better known German female mathematicians like Emmy Noether get the spotlight (a problem of only paying attention to firsts). It also over promises on its timeline that is focused quite squarely on 1800s-present.

It would have been nice to see some harder dug out heroes in here (like Hypatia) and a richer look at aggro-science outside slavery and wheat production. I just find it quite hard to believe that in aggro-science at least there wasn't a single "stolen" or under represented/recognized Indigenous person from North America.

A good idea, a quick read, but not quite enough marrow in the bones.

[Deb Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz. Wow, what a fun read! I read the whole book in one sitting. I had to keep reading to see who was the next scientist that has been missing from history. This book has the stories of 13 scientists or inventors (plus a bonus one in the Author's Notes) that didn't get the credit they deserved because they were women or African American or an immigrant. The range of discoveries was amazing, from paleontology to embryology to steam engines. The first person was Mary Anning and her fossil discoveries. I just finished reading Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier and Mary Anning was a key character in this book, so I was hooked on Stolen Science as I had to read more! After I read each biography section, I was amazed at what I didn't know and what history didn't share. I was angry that they amazing people did not get the credit they deserved in their lifetimes, but was glad that most got appropriate recognition at some point after their death. After each biography, there was short section that gave more background information and explanations about the discovery or invention from DNA to physics to telephones. I think students and teachers in late elementary through middle school would enjoy reading this book. I could be a jumping off point for great discussions and hooks to various sciences that could encourage many students who don't see themselves as scientists to study what they wish!

[Rrshively · Rating 4 out of 5]

This upper elementary book tells the stories of 13 women, minorities, and immigrants who made great scientific discoveries or inventions, but didn't get the deserved acclamation. I had heard of a few, but I learned a lot about how these people were crowded out of the credit for their work. This book was just fine for me to read as an adult, and I especially liked the scientific explanations, as science isn't my strong suit. There is a sadness to reading this book because of the lack of credit to the people who discovered so many things, but it's gratifying to know that they are finally receiving recognition. One of the saddest stories is of Meucci, an Italian immigrant who came to America when Italians were the focus of much discrimination and who had a difficult time with English. He invented the telephone when Bell was just a child. However, he could never collect the cost of registering a patent and because of his poor English and other factors could never get the necessary backers. Those who refused him could have made as much money as Bell and his company. This is also a great book to read if you are falling behind on your Goodreads reading goal as it's a quick read. I read it during Women's History Month where it fit very well.

[Paul Sheckarski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good conversation starter for historiography, particularly since the book contains its own share of error, elision, and conjecture which have the effect of making the book's thesis seem stronger than it is. Is this approach an example of a justified over-correction? That's up to the reader to decide.

It also (implicitly) raises the questions of what it means to get credit for something under capitalism. Is it enough to get one's name in the history books? Does it satisfy our sense of moral outrage that one inventor was able to buy his way out of slavery with the proceeds from his inventions? The book never attempts to answer these questions. There's an ambiguous sense that there's a relation between ingenuity, luck, wealth, fame, and power but it's left entirely to the reader to untangle these ideas.

This would make for an interesting book club selection with a knowledgeable moderator. It also works well as a book in the "well, actually" subgenre of nonfiction. I would have preferred more rigor, personally. The scientific explanations are a bit hand-wavy.

Illustrations are top-notch though. I like the clever solution to the problem of providing a portrait of subjects whose image has not survived in the historical record.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen short chapters uncover the true stories behind many of our greatest scientific breakthroughs including the telephone, vaccines, steam power, and the structure of DNA. These scientists (usually women) didn't get credit because those with more positional power either downplayed or outright stole their research, knowing no one would believe a lowly research assistant, especially if they were a woman or a person of color. I was unfamiliar with most of the people on this list before reading the book, so I'm glad I learned something new! Each chapter also provides a brief section explaining the science behind each invention. Perfect for middle grade nonfiction collections.

Here's the full list with their field of study:
Mary Anning: fossils
Jo Anderson: mechanical reaper
Antonio Meucci: telephone
Benjamin Bradley: steam power
Carlos Juan Finlay: yellow fever
Anna Wessels Williams: diptheria
Nettie Stevens: chromosomes
Lise Meitner: fission
Alice Ball: leprosy
Hilde Mangold: embryos
Chien-Shiung Wu: nuclear physics
Marie Tharp: oceanography
Rosalind Franklin: DNA

[Lellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stolen Science is a middle grade non-fiction book that showcases 13 scientists who were women, poc, or both and whose research was credited to someone else, namely white men. The only one in this book that I had ever heard of was Rosalind Franklin, who discovered the double helix shape of DNA and whose 3 male colleagues published their research without giving her credit, and won a Nobel prize. I'm glad that this book is bringing attention to lesser known scientists, but the fact that none of these people are household names is telling to why this book needed to be written in the first place.

Each section gives a brief introduction to the scientist, their life, and their contribution to the scientific field. At the end of each section, their is a smaller section called "What's the Science?" that describes the field of science the person worked in.

Overall, very informative and an important read! Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people think Alexander Graham Bell was the first to invent the telephone, but Italian immigrant Antonio Meucci developed the technology years before Bell uttered those famous words to his assistant Watson. This book shines the spotlight on Meucci and 12 other diverse scientists or inventors who haven’t gotten their due.

There are many recently published STEM collective bios, but to me this book stands out for two main reasons: 1) the focus on untold stories and how/why these scientists/inventors were nearly written out of history. It’s a refreshing change from a collection of STEM stories we’ve seen elsewhere. 2) each chapter takes a deep but accessible dive into a subject’s story and the science they developed. Far too often for my taste, STEM collective bios tend to gloss over the science and rush through the person’s story with a dry recitation of facts without ever getting inside the person’s head. Kudos to author Ella Schwartz and illustrator Gaby D’Allesandro on this outstanding book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz looks at the lives of thirteen different scientists who didn't receive proper credit for their groundbreaking work as a result of racism, misogyny, or xenophobia, sometimes a combination of the three. It's a great middle grade science history books with fascinating facts about the lives of brilliant scientists, the science behind their work, and a condemnation of the oppression they faced that caused their work to be hidden from history. It's fascinating, it's fun, it's informative. The portraits of each person represented were really good and added to the experience. I think it might have been more effective if it had been a touch longer to spend a little more time on each figure, but it's still an otherwise great book.

I would recommend it for anyone interested in science, history, or social justice, and middle graders interested in any of these things will surely find themselves especially enjoying it.

[Amber Alvarado Canto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for providing me with an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Stolen Science is a phenomenal book that tells the story of the people behind famous inventions and discoveries. While I was familiar with the story of Benajmin Bradley, I enjoyed reading about Jo Anderson, Carlos Juan Finlay, and several others who did not receive recognition for those who were hands-on with scientific discoveries. I devoured this book in one sitting because I love reading/learning more about unsung heroes.

Additionally, I love the What's the Science? segments in the book. While the book mostly acknowledges the work of these unsung heroes, the science portion breaks it down. I can see this appealing most to students who love science or want to pursue a scientific career.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The profiles in this slim volume are inspiring, in that they each end with varying degrees of recognition of the achievements of the individuals who rightly deserved credit for their brilliance and innovations many decades earlier.
The arc of each profile involves societal and/or personal corruption of human rights, civil rights, gender equity, or sheer power plays. These are certainly worthy candidates for more attention, and the individuals lived intriguing lives, some ending tragically young. Even so, even in cases in which the wronged person managed other achievements in life, the overall effect was, to me, as much dispiriting as it was uplifting. The writing and format are well-done with some symbolic line art and helpful sources/author note in back pages.

[Julia Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For every kid who loves to learn (and loves to learn the 'why' behind science and inventions), here's a fantastic book about the people who history almost forgot. It works as both a compelling narrative (broken down into 13 profiles) with an extra section explaining the science behind each achievement. For upper elementary and beyond. It would be a great way to dive into one individual or you could read the book as a whole.

Some of the people profiled, like Mary Anning, may already be familiar to readers, but most probably are not. The section on Antonio Meucci was particularly powerful. An incredible example of how someone without means could make great scientific advances and never get recognized.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories of women who were not given credit for the scientific discoveries they made. Some, such as Mary Anning and Rosalind Franklin, have become better known recently, but many others, I learned about for the first time in this book. Schwartz does a good job of telling about both the women and the science. I also appreciated how she also points out those men who, unlike many others, did try to give credit where credit was due. However, at times I felt like Schwartz was more concerned about making the point that these women were robbed of their rightful recognition than in telling their stories and getting young readers excited about the important roles these women did play in advancing science. Still, a very good book for middle grade readers.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Science is a book targeted toward middle-grade students, but I feel like it could target anyone middle-grades or older. The book is set up by telling each scientist's story, and then following up each chapter with a short summary page about the science that was discussed. These stories could easily support a discussion about credit in science along with how new ideas are perceived if they go against popular belief. Looking at the sources, the author pulled many of the stories from the same article, so I would also research other things to get a fuller picture of each scientist. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and should definitely be included if you use the book with students.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever noticed that when you look at the scientist highlighted in textbooks that they all look the same: white, male, and often dead? I used to think that only men could be scientist because those were the only images I ever saw.. It is only in recent years that women and minority males have started to get the credit they so richly deserve. I teach in a classroom where none of my students see themselves in the scientist mentioned in the books so I appreciate other options such as this to help my students see themselves. Make sure to check out the author's note it shows that this not an issue only occured in the past.

[Maria Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using an inviting and warm conversational tone, the book examines thirteen scientists whose scientific discoveries were largely ignored or taken by the establishment. Following each biography, is a "What's the Science" section; an analysis of the science, such paleontology, steam engines, genetics, or oceanography that formed the basis of the discovery or invention. Captivating and intriguing blue-green toned portraits draw the reader into each chapter, where occasional illustrations, diagrams, and other little touches help guide the reader along. And an astounding author's note demonstrates that many are still fighting for the recognition of their scientific contributions.

[Tala · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Provided ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is an incredibly important Non-Fiction title that needs to be spread like wildfire. There will be so much push back because it really is an accurate portrayal of how history is manipulated rather than honestly recorded. These were inspiring and painful to go through considering each and every one ended in a similar way. Someone who has fewer rights, less autonomy, less person hood, is taken advantage of by someone who has more. Tale as old as time.

[Holly L'Heureux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a preview of this book on NetGalley to see if I would purchase this title for my library. The answer is a resounding yes. This was a very good read. I enjoyed that this book touched on people that are known as having their work “stolen” as well as people who are still more obscure. The inclusion of not just women in history but immigrants and people of color was a well thought out addition. There are so many book lately focused mainly on women that having a book with a combination of people forgotten to history was a wonderful surprise.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my goals as a teacher is to book talk more non fiction works. This will be one that I definitely recommend to middle grade students.

I really enjoyed the spectrum of different scientist/inventors that were portrayed in the book. People all the way from genetics to agriculture were represented in the book.

I also think this work will bring up some important conversations. Simply asking students, “Why were these people ‘forgotten’ or not adequately represented in their discoveries?” will bring up some great discussions!

[Novel Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella Schwartz’s Stolen Science takes on a serious topic in the science world – the stealing of ideas of people in marginalized groups. Countless scientists have gone uncredited while privileged white men have profited from others’ work. This book cannot possibly address all of the wrongs perpetuated in the scientific world, but it does address some and begins the critical thinking process of children to question what we are told.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by the publisher. Originally posted at Novel Obsession.

[Kim Childress · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and important collection of stories of uncredited scientists and inventors throughout the ages. Celebrating and setting the record straight on nearly forgotten inventors and scientists who shared our world today, including Antonia Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and Anna Wessels Williams, who discovered the cure for diphtheria which led to our vaccination shot know most commonly as DtaP, which stands for diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Excellent for class-room curriculum, homeschoolers, with tie-in for Womens', Asian-American's, and Black History Months.