Ava Helen Pauling
The formidable activist and partner who propelled Nobel laureate Linus Pauling's scientific conscience and led her own fierce campaigns for peace and human rights.
1903–1981 (age 78)·American activist·Birthday: December 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ava Helen Pauling was far more than the wife of a famous scientist; she was the moral and political engine of their partnership. Meeting Linus Pauling as a student in Oregon, she shared his intellectual curiosity but steered his focus toward the humanitarian implications of his work. A committed pacifist and socialist, she educated herself in political theory and pushed her husband to take public stands, most notably against nuclear weapons testing, which led to his Nobel Peace Prize. She was a leader in her own right, serving as a delegate to international women's peace conferences and co-founding organizations like the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's Portland chapter. With a sharp intellect and unwavering conviction, she faced FBI surveillance and public criticism, embodying the idea that scientific brilliance must be coupled with social responsibility.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ava was born in 1903, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ava Was Born
The biggest hits of 1903
Ava's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1903Born
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Started school
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Became a teenager
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could drive
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could vote
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Turned 21
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1933Turned 30
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 40
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 50
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 60
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 70
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Died at 78
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
Key Achievements
- Was a central figure in the campaign against atmospheric nuclear testing, which culminated in the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty.
- Served as International President of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in the 1960s.
- Co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter in Oregon.
- Her activism was cited by Linus Pauling as a primary motivation for his own peace work, for which he won the Nobel Prize.
Did You Know?
She was Linus Pauling's only chemistry student when they met; he was her teaching assistant.
She received the Ralph Atkinson Award from the ACLU of Northern California for her civil liberties work.
The Paulings' extensive travel for peace conferences was largely self-funded from Linus's speaking fees.
She and Linus had four children, and their home was a hub for scientific and political discussion.
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