 Hoylande <unk> Young was born in Columbus , Ohio , on June 26 , 1903 . She had a sister , Hilda . She became interested in chemistry when she was in high school , where there were separate boys ' and girls ' chemistry classes . Due to course scheduling conflicts she was permitted to take the more challenging boys ' course , although she had to sit up the back of the class . She entered Ohio State University , from which she received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1924 . She then went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago , writing her thesis on " <unk> <unk> <unk> " under the supervision of Julius Stieglitz . 
