Early life in Pennsylvania; German background; training at Radcliffe College and Harvard College Observatory; staff positions at Harvard and Yale Universities and the Maria Mitchell Observatory. Comments on growth of research interests; the administration of the Harvard College Observatory under Harlow Shapley and Donald Menzel; ballistics research during World War II; women in science. Specific research areas discussed include spectroscopy, luminosity criteria, astrometry and variable stars. Also prominently mentioned are: Robert d'Escourt Atkinson, James G.