Historical Profile: Percy L. Julian



I recently watched a documentary called “Forgotten Genius.”  This 2007 PBS Nova documentary profiles the personal life and career of Percy Lavon Julian, an African American chemist.  Julian (April 11, 1899 – April 19, 1975) was born in Montgomery, Alabama.  Although he grew up poor, Julian went on to become one of the most prolific scientists of the 20th century.

During his career, Julian received more than 130 chemical patents.  Julian’s specialty was working with soy beans.  His research led to developments in fire fighting foam on Navy ships, foods, glaucoma prevention, paints, plant steroids, rheumatoid arthritis, and numerous others.

When Julian was a child he recalled seeing an African American man lynched from a tree while walking in the woods near his family’s home.  Julian’s parents James and Elizabeth encouraged Julian and his five siblings to pursue higher education.  

In 1920, Julian was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Depauw University.  Julian went on to earn a Master’s Degree in chemistry from Harvard University but was denied the opportunity to complete his Ph.D. from Harvard because university officials thought white students would resent being taught by an African American.  In 1931, Julian earned a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna, making him one of the first African Americans to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Julian was able to repeatedly overcome racial discrimination in his personal and professional life.  He was eventually hired as the director of research at the Glidden company’s Soya Products Division in Chicago, Illinois.  Julian worked at Glidden for 18 years and later founded his own company Julian Laboratories, Inc.  In 1964, he founded Julian Associates and Julian Research Institute.

In 1973, he was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.  He was the recipient of 18 honorary doctorates and was named to the Board of Trustees of six colleges.  In 1990, Julian was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and in 1993 the United States Postal Service honored Julian by putting him on a commemorative stamp.

In the Nova documentary, historian James Anderson says: “His story is a story of great accomplishment, of heroic efforts and overcoming tremendous odds… a story about who we are and what we stand for and the challenges that have been there and the challenges that are still with us.”

For more information about the scientific work and legacy of Percy Lavon Julian visit:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/forgotten-genius.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Lavon_Julian

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