Skip to main content
  • National Labs
  • Offices
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • About
    About
    • History
    • Organization Chart
    • Work with Us
  • Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin
    Energy.Gov logo

    Main navigation

    Energy.gov Home
  • Science & Innovation
    Science & Innovation
    • Energy Sources
    • Clean Energy
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Climate Change
    • Vehicles
    • STEM
  • Energy Economy
    Energy Economy
    • Prices & Trends
    • Funding & Financing
    • Federal, State & Local Government
    • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Security & Safety
    Security & Safety
    • Nuclear Security
    • Cybersecurity
    • Environmental Cleanup
    • Emergency Response
  • Save Energy, Save Money
    Save Energy, Save Money
    • Heating & Cooling
    • Weatherization
    • Windows, Doors & Skylights
    • Design & Remodeling
    • Electricity & Fuel
    • Start Saving
    • Insulation
    • Sealing Your Home
    • Ventilation
  • Women of the Manhattan Project

    1. Energy.gov
    2. Women of the Manhattan Project
    Photos
    1/7 Lise Meitner And the Discovery of Fission
    From the beginning, women had to fight to have their work recognized. Lise Meitner -- pictured here receiving the Fermi Award in 1966 -- discovered nuclear fission with Otto Hahn in 1939. But six years later, only Hahn was given the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery.
    Photo courtesy of
    2/7 Leona Woods Marshall
    Leona Woods Marshall was the youngest and only female member of Enrico Fermi's team at University of Chicago that created the first self-sustained nuclear reaction.
    Photo courtesy of
    3/7 Women Processing War Bonds
    An officer stands at a microphone, while women sitting at tables process bonds for the gathered crowd.
    Photo courtesy of
    4/7 WAACs Taking A Break With A Game of Chinese Checkers
    A group of members of the Women Army Air Force Corps, also called WAACs, relaxes with a game of Chinese checkers.
    Photo courtesy of
    5/7 A Group of Army Corps Members & Nurses Pose for a Photograph
    This photo includes Women's Army Corps, servicemen, and nurses in Oak Ridge, TN. Women also joined the Red Cross in large numbers during WWII.
    Photo courtesy of
    6/7 Woman Welding at Oak Ridge
    During the Manhattan Project, women weren't relegated to expected roles like nurse, teacher, and secretary. As seen here, women helped in a lot of other aspects of the project including welding, control panel management, and even nuclear science.
    Photo courtesy of
    7/7 A "Calutron Girl" Sits At Her Station
    Calutron workers were mostly 18-20 year old women, who were trained to watch the control panels on the machine and keep the dial between a certain number. Management cautioned male co-workers not to talk to female Y-12 workers as they monitored the controls.
    Photo courtesy of

    1000 Independence Ave. SW
    Washington DC 20585
    202-586-5000

    Sign Up for Email Updates
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin

    About energy.gov

  • History
  • DOE STEM
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Energy.gov Resources

  • Budget & Performance
  • Covid-19 Response
  • Directives, Delegations & Requirements
  • FOIA
  • Inspector General
  • Privacy Program
  • Small Business
  • Federal Government

  • The White House
  • USA.gov
  • Vote.gov
    • Web Policies
    • Privacy
    • No Fear Act
    • Whistleblower Protection
    • Notice of EEO Findings of Discrimination
    • Information Quality
    • Open Gov
    • Accessibility
    • Vulnerability Disclosure Program