The question that her story poses — how could someone with such important contributions remain unknown for so long? — has an answer.

That answer is uncomfortable and specific and documented.

It involves race and gender and the specific practices of the mid-twentieth century American business world.

And the follow-up question — what are we going to do about it? — is one that every generation of Americans gets to answer for itself.

Mary Kenner answered it by inventing, and by persisting, and by filing the patents that documented her work for anyone who would eventually come looking.

We answer it by coming looking.