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Katherine Oppenheimer
Katherine Oppenheimer
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Katherine Vissering 'Kitty' Oppenheimer (née Puening) was a German American biologist, botanist, and a former member of the Communist Party of America. Born on August 8, 1910, in Recklinghausen, Germany, she led a life marked by significant personal and professional milestones, including her association with the Manhattan Project through her husband, J. Robert Oppenheimer. This timeline highlights key events and periods in her life.
Main Milestones
Birth
August 8, 1910
Katherine Vissering 'Kitty' Puening was born in Recklinghausen, Westphalia, Prussia, Germany, to Franz Puening and Käthe Vissering. She was their only child.
Immigration to the United States
May 14, 1913
At the age of two, Kitty immigrated to the United States with her family aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. Her father, a metallurgical engineer, had secured employment with a steel company in Pittsburgh, and the family settled in the suburb of Aspinwall, Pennsylvania.
High School Graduation
1928
Kitty graduated from Aspinwall High School in June 1928. Following this, she enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, studying mathematics, biology, and chemistry.
Travel to Europe
1930
In March 1930, Kitty sailed to Europe, where she met Frank Ramseyer, an American music student in Paris. She returned to the United States on May 19, 1930.
Association with Joseph Dallet
1934
After returning to the United States in August 1934, Kitty moved in with Joseph Dallet, a member of the Communist Party of America. They became common-law spouses and were deeply involved in communist activities.
Separation from Joseph Dallet
1936
Kitty and Joseph Dallet separated in June 1936. She then moved to live with her parents in Claygate, England, and worked as a German-to-English translator.
Joseph Dallet's Death
1937
Joseph Dallet was killed in action on October 17, 1937, while fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Kitty had planned to join him but was delayed due to health issues.
Marriage to Richard Stewart Harrison
1938
Kitty married Richard Stewart Harrison, a medical doctor, on November 23, 1938. She had met him while enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania.
Marriage to J. Robert Oppenheimer
1941
Although the exact date of her marriage to J. Robert Oppenheimer is not specified in the provided sources, it is known that she married him after her divorce from Harrison. Her son, Peter, was born on May 12, 1941.
Life at Los Alamos
1943-1945
Kitty and J. Robert Oppenheimer moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, in March 1943, where Robert became the director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory. Kitty worked as a lab technician under Louis Hempelmann and later hosted social gatherings for the community.
Security Hearing Testimony
1952
Kitty was called as a witness in her husband's security hearing by the Atomic Energy Commission. She firmly stood her ground, answering questions about her past communist affiliations and emphasizing her opposition to communism.
Death
October 27, 1972
Kitty Oppenheimer died in Panama City, Panama, on October 27, 1972.

Other Themed Timelines

Communist Party InvolvementCommunist Party InvolvementEarly Life and EducationEarly Life and EducationMarriages and Personal LifeMarriages and Personal LifeSecurity Hearings and Later LifeSecurity Hearings and Later Life