When you hear the name Alice Ball, you’re hearing the story of a scientist who changed medicine, and did it at a time when Black women were rarely allowed into labs, classrooms, or scientific circles.

Alice Ball was the first Black woman to earn a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Hawaiʻi. Her chemistry work led to a better treatment for Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy), helping people who had not responded to treatment options or were denied care.

But big achievements don’t appear out of nowhere. They grow from family, community, and the everyday examples that teach a child what’s possible.

Today, we’re honoring JP Ball, Alice Ball’s grandfather, and the inspiring photography life he built long before Alice ever stepped into a lab.

Who Was JP Ball?

JP Ball was a Black photographer, entrepreneur, and community leader in the 1800s. In an era when opportunity was often withheld from Black families, Ball didn’t wait for permission. He built a life through skill development, persistence, and a sharp business sense.

Photography back then wasn’t a quick click. It was slow, technical, and expensive. A single portrait could mean controlled lighting, long exposures (meaning the person had to stay still for a long time!), and careful chemical work to develop and preserve an image.

That means JP Ball’s studio required two kinds of brilliance at the same time:

  • Artistic judgment — How do you capture someone’s spirit in one image?
  • Scientific thinking — How do you mix chemicals and process materials correctly so the photo lasts?

His photographs did more than capture faces. They preserved dignity, pride, and history, especially for people whose stories were too often ignored.

Why JP Ball’s Story Matters for Kids

JP Ball’s life gives kids a few clear takeaways through simple ideas that still matter today:

  • You can make something lasting. Even when the world feels unfair, your work can matter for a long time.
  • Talent grows with practice. Skills are built one day at a time, with patience and repetition.
  • Black history includes creators and innovators. Every generation has people who build, invent, teach, and lead.

JP Ball may not have known exactly how far his influence would reach. But the example he set, of learning a craft, mastering it, and using it to serve a community, still echoes today.

The Connection to Alice Ball

Alice Ball grew up in a family that valued learning and craftsmanship. Having a grandfather like JP Ball meant she came from a lineage that already proved that Black excellence belongs everywhere, including in spaces that tried to exclude it.

Alice’s achievements in chemistry and medicine were extraordinary. They were also rooted in a family culture of:

  • working with curiosity
  • learning was a daily practice
  • aiming high even when the world says “not for you”

JP Ball’s legacy is part of the ground Alice stood on.

A Question for Young Readers

Try this one:

What are you practicing now that could help someone later?

JP Ball used photography to document life and tell stories.

Alice Ball used chemistry to improve lives.

Different paths. Same habit: learn, practice, create.

Try This at Home: “Legacy Lens” Activity

Grab a piece of paper and draw a camera. Inside the camera, write or draw:

  • something you love to learn about
  • something you are practicing
  • something you want to try someday

Then ask a grown-up:

“What is one talent or strength in our family that I might have, too?”

Write the answer under your camera.

Next, if you can, take a photo of a family member using that talent—or take a photo of you practicing something new.

Every family has a legacy. Sometimes we just need a “lens” to notice it.

Remembering JP Ball, Celebrating Alice Ball

JP Ball and Alice Ball remind us that history is made through everyday choices: learning a craft, doing careful work, and sticking with it.

At Willka for Kids, we share stories like these so kids can see a wider, truer picture of who builds the world.

You come from someone’s courage. Your courage can become someone else’s story.

10 Children’s Books About Real People Who Changed Photography, Medicine, and the World

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no additional cost to you. I only share books I genuinely recommend and think you’ll enjoy. Thank you for supporting Willka; it helps me keep creating free content and resources for this community.

Illustration by Maureen O’Brien

Published On: April 25th, 2026

When you hear the name Alice Ball, you’re hearing the story of a scientist who changed medicine, and did it at a time when Black women were rarely allowed into labs, classrooms, or scientific circles.

Alice Ball was the first Black woman to earn a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Hawaiʻi. Her chemistry work led to a better treatment for Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy), helping people who had not responded to treatment options or were denied care.

But big achievements don’t appear out of nowhere. They grow from family, community, and the everyday examples that teach a child what’s possible.

Today, we’re honoring JP Ball, Alice Ball’s grandfather, and the inspiring photography life he built long before Alice ever stepped into a lab.

Who Was JP Ball?

JP Ball was a Black photographer, entrepreneur, and community leader in the 1800s. In an era when opportunity was often withheld from Black families, Ball didn’t wait for permission. He built a life through skill development, persistence, and a sharp business sense.

Photography back then wasn’t a quick click. It was slow, technical, and expensive. A single portrait could mean controlled lighting, long exposures (meaning the person had to stay still for a long time!), and careful chemical work to develop and preserve an image.

That means JP Ball’s studio required two kinds of brilliance at the same time:

  • Artistic judgment — How do you capture someone’s spirit in one image?
  • Scientific thinking — How do you mix chemicals and process materials correctly so the photo lasts?

His photographs did more than capture faces. They preserved dignity, pride, and history, especially for people whose stories were too often ignored.

Why JP Ball’s Story Matters for Kids

JP Ball’s life gives kids a few clear takeaways through simple ideas that still matter today:

  • You can make something lasting. Even when the world feels unfair, your work can matter for a long time.
  • Talent grows with practice. Skills are built one day at a time, with patience and repetition.
  • Black history includes creators and innovators. Every generation has people who build, invent, teach, and lead.

JP Ball may not have known exactly how far his influence would reach. But the example he set, of learning a craft, mastering it, and using it to serve a community, still echoes today.

The Connection to Alice Ball

Alice Ball grew up in a family that valued learning and craftsmanship. Having a grandfather like JP Ball meant she came from a lineage that already proved that Black excellence belongs everywhere, including in spaces that tried to exclude it.

Alice’s achievements in chemistry and medicine were extraordinary. They were also rooted in a family culture of:

  • working with curiosity
  • learning was a daily practice
  • aiming high even when the world says “not for you”

JP Ball’s legacy is part of the ground Alice stood on.

A Question for Young Readers

Try this one:

What are you practicing now that could help someone later?

JP Ball used photography to document life and tell stories.

Alice Ball used chemistry to improve lives.

Different paths. Same habit: learn, practice, create.

Try This at Home: “Legacy Lens” Activity

Grab a piece of paper and draw a camera. Inside the camera, write or draw:

  • something you love to learn about
  • something you are practicing
  • something you want to try someday

Then ask a grown-up:

“What is one talent or strength in our family that I might have, too?”

Write the answer under your camera.

Next, if you can, take a photo of a family member using that talent—or take a photo of you practicing something new.

Every family has a legacy. Sometimes we just need a “lens” to notice it.

Remembering JP Ball, Celebrating Alice Ball

JP Ball and Alice Ball remind us that history is made through everyday choices: learning a craft, doing careful work, and sticking with it.

At Willka for Kids, we share stories like these so kids can see a wider, truer picture of who builds the world.

You come from someone’s courage. Your courage can become someone else’s story.

10 Children’s Books About Real People Who Changed Photography, Medicine, and the World

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no additional cost to you. I only share books I genuinely recommend and think you’ll enjoy. Thank you for supporting Willka; it helps me keep creating free content and resources for this community.

Illustration by Maureen O’Brien

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