Hattie Scott Peterson grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, born to parents who worked hard at everyday jobs. Despite the barriers she faced as a Black woman in the early 1900s, she loved math and sciences. After high school she worked in the U.S. Government Accounting Office for a while during World War II, but she rather than stay there, she decided to keep going. She went to Howard University, and in 1946 earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, becoming the first African American woman in the U.S. to do so.
After graduating, she moved to Sacramento, California, and in 1947 started working for the U.S. Geological Survey doing surveying and cartographic engineering. Later, in 1954, she became the first woman engineer to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in her area — focusing on flood risk reduction, navigation projects, and other civil engineering tasks that protect people and their land from water damage.
Beyond her technical work, Hattie was a strong mentor and advocate. She supported women entering engineering and physical sciences at a time when few people thought that was possible. She left a lasting legacy. In addition to leaving an endowment to Howard University that continues to create scholarships for others, she was honored by USACE Sacramento with an inspirational award in her name.
Why She Inspires Us:
Hattie Scott Peterson didn’t wait for permission—she made history by pushing
through walls of bias, and used her skills not just to build structures, but to
build hope. She showed that engineering isn’t only about designing—it’s about
protecting communities and lifting others with you.
Born: October 11, 1913 - Norfolk, Virginia
Died: April 10, 1993 - Sacramento, California
Family: Parents - Uzeil Scott and Hattie (Williams), Divorced William Bright Jr. in 1940, Married Donald Charles Peterson in 1943
Education: BS in Civil Engineering from Howard University
Known for: Being the first Black female engineer to gain a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and also to join the US Army Corp of Engineers.
In 1946, Hattie Scott Peterson became the first African American woman in the U.S. to earn a civil engineering degree—and just a few years later, she was also the first woman engineer hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Sacramento.
