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African American Scientists African American Scientists
National Inventors Hall of Fame National Inventors Hall of Fame

African American Scientists
NAME LIFE DATES RESEARCH AREA NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Alexander, Lloyd E. 1902- Cell biology (embryology) Kentucky State College holds Lloyd E. Alexander Day, featuring student biology presentations, every year in his honor.
Berry, Leonidas 1902- Gastrointestinal systems Elected president of the National Medical Association in 1965; founder of the Flying Black Medics, Cairo, Illinois, who created clinics for black people otherwise denied care.
Blackwell, David Harold 1919- Mathematics Noted for his work on game theory; became first African American member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1965; received Von Neumann Theory Prize in 1979.
Bramwell, Fitzgerald B. 1945- Chemistry Leader of CHEMCOM, national program for high school chemistry students.
Branson, Herman R. 1914-1995 Biophysics Discovered spiral hemoglobin pattern that helped reveal the secret of DNA's structure.
Bromery, Randolph W. 1926- Geology Helped found the Weston Geophysical International Corporation in 1981 and the Geoscience Engineering Corporation in 1983.
Brooks, Carolyn Branch 1946- Microbiology Recognized by President Bill Clinton in 1998 at the first annual White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Campbell, George, Jr. 1945- Physics Performed his wartime government service in Kabwe, Zambia, as a math teacher in 1968; leader
in National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME).
Carruthers, George R. 1939- Astrophysics Awarded the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1972 for building a camera that could measure ultraviolet light.
Carson, Benjamin S., Sr. 1951- Physiology Successfully separated two Siamese twins who shared a single blood supply to their brains in 1987.
Carver, George Washington 1864-1943 Biochemistry, plant physiology Recipient of Spingarn Medal of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1923; appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1935; awarded Franklin Roosevelt Medal for distinguished research in agricultural chemistry in 1937; named International Federation of Architects, Engineers, Chemists, and Technicians Man of the Year in 1940; posthumously funded the George Washington Carver Research Foundation.
Chappelle, Emmett W. 1925- Biochemistry Holder of 13 patents for his inventions.
Cobb, Jewel Plummer 1924- Cell biology Prominent researcher on skin cancer; outspoken activist in recruitment of women and minorities in
the sciences.
Craft, Thomas J., Sr. 1924- Developmental biology, education Adviser to the National Institutes of Health; interest
in the training of science teachers at all levels led
him to train college science teachers in India in 1967 and 1968.
Daly, Marie Maynard 1921- Biochemistry First black woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry in 1947; fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; pioneer on the effects of cigarette smoke on the lungs.
Darden, Christine Mann 1942- Mechanical engineering Reproduced the effects of a sonic boom in a computer program for NASA in 1967.
Davis, Leodis 1933- Biochemistry Medical Faculty Award from Lederle Pharmacutical Company for work on liver enzyme and B6 vitamin.
Dorman, Linneaus C. 1935- Organic chemistry Researched ways to reduce environmental damage done by agricultural chemicals.
Drew, Charles R. 1904-1950 Physiology Became director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank in 1941 but disagreed with their policy of separating blood by race; awarded Spingarn Medal by the NAACP in 1944 for training African American doctors; appointed by surgeon general to task force in Europe in 1949 to improve postwar medical care.
Drew, James B. 1922- Physiology Obtained master's degree in 1954 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, the first African American to obtain an advanced degree from Rutgers.
Dunbar, Joseph C. 1944- Physiology Won Minority Achievement Award in 1989 for his research on the transplanted pancreas.
Elliot, Irving Wesley, Jr. 1925- Organic chemistry Participated in 1955 Tallahassee bus boycott; discovered a now-patented chemical in 1988 that is being tested against acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Eure, Herman 1947- Parasitology Adviser about racial bias to developers of
aptitude tests.
Evans, Slayton, Jr. 1943- Organic chemistry Researched a medicine that controls schistosomiasis, a parasite-borne disease that is common in Southeast Asia.
Ferguson, Angela D. 1925- Physiology Pioneer of health work with African American children, particularly sickle-cell anemia cases.
Ferguson, Lloyd Noel 1918- Biochemistry Won Guggenheim fellowship to study fermentation in Denmark in 1953; in 1958 made head of department of chemistry at Howard University, the first chemistry program at a black college; founder of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, providing mentoring for young African American chemists.
Florant, Gregory L. 1951- Animal physiology Fulbright Scholar in Graves, France, in 1983, studying the effects of insulin on hibernating animals; fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1989.
Francisco, Joseph S. 1955- Chemistry Recipient of Presidential Young Investigator Award and a research fellowship from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 1990 for his work on the effects of chlorine on the ozone.
Franklin, Renty B. 1945- Physiology Received Howard Hughes-Morehouse Distinguished Scientists Award in 1994.
Fraser-Reed, Bertram 1934- Organic chemistry Received the Merck, Sharpe & Dohme Award for outstanding contributions to chemistry in 1977.
Fuller, A. Oveta 1955- Microbiology Work on herpes funded by such agencies as the Anna Fuller Cancer Fund, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the National Institutes of Health.
Gillyard, Cornelia Denson 1941- Organic chemistry Worked with NASA on programs to encourage African American women in the sciences.
Gipson, Mack, Jr. 1931- Geology Founded first geological sciences program in
1964 at a historically black university, Virginia
State University.
Gourdine, Meredith C. 1929-1998 Engineering physics Founded Gourdine Systems in 1964 and Energy Innovations in 1974; invented many devices based on the concept of the fuel cell and held over 70 U.S. and foreign patents.
Granville, Evelyn Boyd 1924- Mathematics Became one of the first two black women to earn a doctorate in mathematics in 1949; designed computer programs for NASA's Apollo project.
Gwaltney, John L. 1928- Anthropology Author of The Dissenters (1986), oral history
that was nominated for the Robert F. Kennedy
Book Award.
Hall, Lloyd Augustus 1894-1971 Chemistry Discovered new ways to cure meats, preserve foods with germ-free spices, and prevent fats from spoiling.
Harris, Don Navarro 1929- Biochemistry Holder or coholder of five patents on
curative compounds.
Harris, Mary Styles 1949- Genetics Worked throughout her career with the media to
point out the links between science and medicine and to promote awareness of the health issues of African Americans.
Harris, Wesley L. 1941- Aeronautical engineering Researched gas dynamics and aeronautical acoustics; fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1992.
Harrison, Faye Venetia 1951- Anthropology Author of Decolonizing Anthropology (1991); researched women's issues in Jamaica.
Harrison, Robert W., III 1941- Endocrinology Researched diseases of the adrenal gland.
Hawkins, Walter Lincoln 1911-1992 Organic chemistry First African American to join the Bell Labs staff in 1942; first chairperson of SEED, an American Chemical Society program encouraging minority participation in the sciences in 1981; first black member of the National Academy of Engineering; presented with the National Technology Award in 1992 by President George Bush.
Haynes, John K. 1943- Cell biology Researched the relationship between calcium and sickle cells.
Henderson, James H. M. 1917- Plant physiology Lifelong study of sweet potatoes, active in the Civil Rights Movement.
Henry, Warren E. 1909- Physical chemistry Researched superconductivity and magnetism.
Hill, Walter A. 1946- Plant physiology Developed a method for growing sweet potatoes in water for NASA.
Hinton, William Augustus 1883-1959 Microbiology Created the widely used Hinton test for syphilis.
Hrabowski, Freeman A., III 1950- Mathematics Created the Meyerhoff Scholarship program with Robert and Jane Meyerhoff in 1988.
Jackson, Shirley Ann 1946- Theoretical physics Appointed head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by President Clinton in 1995.
Jackson, William M. 1936- Physical chemistry Director of a million-dollar government grant used to increase minority participation in the sciences.
Jearld, Ambrose, Jr. 1944- Marine biology Regional coordinator of all New England fisheries.
Jemison, Mae C. 1956- Physiology Became the first African American woman in space in 1992 on the space shuttle Endeavour.
Jones, Frederick M. 1893-1961 Mechanical engineering Founded U.S. Thermo Control Company in 1935 after inventing an air-conditioned truck for the transportation of food; held 61 patents.
Julian, Percy Lavon 1899-1975 Organic chemistry Pioneered the synthesis of cortisone; elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1960; received 19 honorary degrees.
Just, Ernest Everett 1883-1941 Marine biology Awarded the first NAACP Spingarn Medal in 1915 for his work in biology.
King, James, Jr. 1933- Physical chemistry Researched pollution reduction; named
Technologist of the Year in 1993 by National Technical Association.
Kittrell, Flemmie P. 1904-1980 Nutrition Created graduate nutrition programs at
Howard University; researched nutrition
across Asia and Africa.
Kornegay, Wade M. 1934- Engineering physics Named scientist of the year in 1990 by Society of Black Engineers.
Kountz, Samuel Lee 1930-1981 Physiology With Roy Cohen, performed first mother-to-child kidney transplant in 1961.
Langford, George M. 1944- Cell biology In 1992 research team discovered a new
transport system in cells that could be fundamental
in learning to control the spread of cellular diseases such as cancer.
Lawrence, Margaret Morgan 1914- Psychiatry Pioneer in the study of the emotional and developmental effects of poverty on children.
Leevy, Caroll M. 1920- Physiology Specialized in the study of liver disease; became the scientific director of the Sammy Davis Jr. National Liver Institute in 1984.
Lester, William A., Jr. 1937- Theoretical chemistry Researched high-velocity molecular collisions; won Percy L. Julian Award for Pure and Applied Research in 1979.
Lewis, H. Ralph 1931- Theoretical physics Researched a thermonuclear fusion reactor that would not produce radioactive waste.
Macklin, John W. 1939- Physical chemistry Developed, with his associates, a microscopic light meter to study the origins of one-celled creatures.
Massey, Walter E. 1938- Theoretical physics In 1990 became second black person to direct the National Science Foundation.
Massie, Samuel Proctor 1919- Organic chemistry Became first black department chair at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1977; in 1993 became first civilian and second African American to become an honorary member of the National Naval Officers Association.
McBay, Henry C. 1914-1995 Organic chemistry Asked by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1951 to design a chemistry program in Liberia.
McNair, Ronald Erwin 1950-1986 Engineering physics In 1984 orbited Earth 27 times in 8 days in the space shuttle Challenger, sampling gases and testing solar cells; died in the 1986 Challenger explosion.
Mickens, Ronald Elbert 1943- Physics Author of books on pure mathematics and biographies of African American women in
the sciences.
Mitchell, Earl D. 1938- Biochemistry Studied the digestive functions of plants and animals.
Mitchell, James W. 1943- Analytical chemistry Percy L. Julian Award recipient in 1981; IR-100 awards for industrial research in 1982 and 1989; inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1989.
Morrison, Harry L. 1932- Theoretical physics Helped found Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA), a program
dedicated to preparing minority students for
college science courses.
Murray, Sandra 1947- Cell biology Studied DNA and RNA and their effects on
glandular cancer.
Nelson, Ivory V. 1934- Analytical chemistry Helped found the chemistry department at the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico.
Owens, Joan Murrell 1933- Marine biology Became first African American woman to earn a doctorate in geology in 1984.
Poindexter, Hildrus A. 1901-1987 Bacteriology Traveled in Asia, North Africa, and the United States, studying tropical medicine and working for the U.S. Public Health Service.
Reed, Kennedy J. 1944- Theoretical physics Helped found the National Physical Science Consortium, which provides college fellowships to minority and female students.
Rouse, Carl A. 1926- Astrophysics Holds a patent for improved shields in nuclear
power plants.
Scott, Juanita Simons 1936- Developmental biology Studied the effects of water pollution; assisted teachers of elementary- and middle-school students in teaching science.
Slaughter, John B. 1934- Engineering physics Became first black director of the National Science Foundation in 1980; named chancellor of the University of Maryland at College Park in 1982.
Stephens, Clarence F. 1917- Mathematics Ford Foundation Fellow at Princeton University during Albert Einstein's tenure there.
Stokes, Gerald V. 1943- Microbiology Researched vaccine to prevent chlamydia; the only African American to have taught basic graduate science at George Washington University.
Sullivan, Louis Wade 1933- Physiology Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under President George Bush.
Taylor, Welton I. 1919- Microbiology In 1965 invented a procedure for detecting the bacteria that cause food poisoning, which became the standard required procedure for all foods by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Thompson, Emmanuel B. 1928- Pharmacology Researched drugs to control high blood pressure and sickle-cell anemia.
Tildon, J. Tyson 1931- Biochemistry Major authority on sudden infant death syndrome.
Tolbert, Margaret E. M. 1943- Biochemistry Served as the program director for the National Science Foundation's Research Improvement in Minority Institutions Program.
Turner, Charles Henry 1867-1923 Developmental biology First scientist to notice ant circling pattern still known as 'Turner Circling'; did all of his significant work with no government grants or outside funding, while he taught at Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
von Winbush, Samuel 1931- Inorganic chemistry Designed, with Victor Maroni, a metal extraction project that was named one of the 100 best inventions of 1986.
Washington, Warren M. 1936- Meteorology, physics Authority on global warming; became first black president of the American Meteorological Society in 1994; cofounded Black Environmental Science Trust (BEST), helping black scientists mentor black students of science.
Wiley, William R. 1932- Microbiology, Biochemistry Worked as a graduate student under Nobel Prize-winner Salvador Luria.
Wilkins, J. Ernest, Jr. 1923- Theoretical physics Received doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1942 at the age of 19; physicist on Manhattan Project during World War II; elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1976.
Williams, Theodore R., Jr. 1930- Analytical chemistry Helped pioneer a summer science camp for 7th-grade girls.
Williams, Willie, Jr. 1947- Physics Researched the use of light beams to transfer information in space.
Woods, Geraldine Pittman 1921-1999 Cell biology (embryology) Helped found Head Start in 1965.
Wright, Jane C. 1919- Chemistry, physiology Became director of the Cancer Research Foundation in 1952; in 1967 appointed full professor of surgery and associate dean at New York Medical College, making her the most senior African American woman at a medical school.
Wyche, James Howard 1942- Cell biology Researched single-cell biology; head of
many minority outreach efforts among the
Ivy League universities.
Source: James H. Kessler, J. S. Kidd, Renee A. Kidd, Katherine A. Morin, Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century, 1996.
Appears in these articles:
Carver, George Washington
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