Ruth Ella Moore (May 19, 1903 – July 19, 1994) was an American bacteriologist and microbiologist, who, in 1933, became the first African-American woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in a natural science. She was a professor of bacteriology at Howard University. A decade later, she was installed as the head of the department of bacteriology, which she renamed to the department of microbiology. During that period she was promoted to associate professor of microbiology. She published her research on tuberculosis, immunology, dental caries, the response of gut microorganisms to antibiotics, and the blood types of African-Americans. Although there are gaps in the official personnel records of the university, Moore is believed to have continued to teach and conduct her research at Howard until 1973, after which she held the position of associate professor emeritus of microbiology until 1990. Moore also gained recognition as a fashion designer.
Early life and education Ruth Ella Moore was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Margaret Moore and William E. Moore on May 19, 1903. She had two older brothers, Donovan L. Moore and William E. Moore. Her mother was a successful artist. As a graduate of Columbus State College of Art and Design, she always encouraged Ruth to strive for a college degree and beyond. During her high school years, Moore attended multiple high schools in Columbus, Ohio. All of them were segregated and under resourced by the City of Columbus. Moore attended the Ohio State University for both her undergraduate and graduate education. During her undergraduate years, Moore was a member of Delta Sigma Theta- one of the Divine nine sororities. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1926 and her Master of Science degree in 1927. She was awarded her Ph.D. in bacteriology in 1933 from the university, making her the first Black woman in the United States to earn a PhD in the natural sciences, as well as the first African American of any gender to earn a PhD in Bacteriology. The Ohio State University was one of the few universities in the United States admitting Black students at the time.Despite significant record of Moore's attendance, graduation and further education at Ohio State University, there are noted gaps of Moore's entry in the chronological listing of bacteriology ph.D recipients of Ohio State University document archives. Her dissertation was on the tuberculosis bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The two parts were entitled, "Studies on Dissociation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis" and "A New Method of Concentration on the Tubercule Bacilli as Applied to Sputum And Urine Examination". At the time, tuberculosis was the second largest cause of death in the United States. This work was referenced in many later articles contributing to the eventual control of the disease.
Career In 1940, she became assistant professor of bacteriology at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. In 1952, Moore became chair of the department of bacteriology. She was subsequently promoted to the position of associate professor. She was the first woman to be a department Head at the university, which is a historically Black university. Moore changed the department name from the department of bacteriology to the department of microbiology. In 1957, Moore stepped down from her departmental leadership position, but continued to teach and conduct research on bacteriology at the university. She retired from teaching at Howard University in 1973 and held the position of the associate professor emeritus of microbiology until 1990. It is unclear whether she ever received tenure despite her long career of teaching and research. Moore also held other positions at the university, serving as chair of the scholarship and loans committee, as well as chair of the student guidance committee. Throughout her career she was a member of the American Public Health Association and the American Society of Microbiology, which she joined in 1936. Moore was the first African-American to join the American Society for Microbiology. As a Black woman, she faced restrictions to attending American Society for Microbiology meetings, particularly where Jim Crow laws were in effect, mandating segregation in hotels and conference venues. Moore also was a member of the American Association of Science, American Society of Immunology, the American Association of Microbiology, and the American Public Health Association. Moore's research was published in a wide variety of professional journals and publications, from the Journal of the American Medical Association to the American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Some of her research included significant contributions in the study of blood types, dental caries (cavities), and the reaction of specific pathogens to different classes of antibiotics.
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