Halson V. Eagleson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Halson V. Eagleson
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Eagleson in his 1921 senior photo at Bloomington High School
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| Born | March 14, 1903 |
| Died | September 23, 1992 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Indiana University |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Howard University |
| Thesis | The influence of certain atmospheric conditions upon sound transmission (1939) |
Halson Vashon Eagleson Jr. (March 14, 1903 – September 23, 1992) was an important American scientist and teacher. He was a physicist, which means he studied how the world works, like sound and energy. He was the fifth African American person in the United States to earn a PhD in physics. He was also the first African American to get this high-level degree in physics from Indiana University. Eagleson's main research was about acoustics, which is the science of sound.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Halson V. Eagleson Jr. was born in Bloomington, Indiana, on March 14, 1903. He was one of six children. His father, Halson Vashon Eagleson Sr., was born into slavery. He moved to Bloomington in the 1880s. His mother was Eliza Ann Loggins.
Eagleson Sr. owned barbershops in Bloomington. He was a well-known barber in the area. The Eagleson family was very important in Bloomington. Many of their family members attended Indiana University.
Halson Eagleson Jr.'s brother, Preston Eagleson, made history. He became the first African American to play sports for Indiana University against other colleges. He was also the second Black student to earn a degree there. Preston was the first Black student to get a master's degree from the university.
Preston's son, Wilson Vashon Marshall, later married Frances Marshall Eagleson. She was the first Black woman to graduate from Indiana University. Their son, Wilson V. Eagleson, became a brave pilot. He was part of the Tuskegee Airmen, a famous group of African American fighter pilots.
In February 2022, the city of Bloomington honored the Eagleson family. They changed the name of a street that goes through the Indiana University campus to Eagleson Avenue. This street was previously named Jordan Avenue. It was named after a former university president who supported eugenics, a harmful idea about human traits.
Education and Challenges
Eagleson went to schools in Bloomington. There, he first became interested in physics and music. He then went to Indiana University. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1926. He continued his studies there, getting his master's degree in 1931. He earned his PhD in 1939. His PhD paper was about "The influence of certain atmospheric conditions upon sound transmission."
When he received his doctorate, he became the first African American person in the university's history to earn a PhD in physics. He was also the fifth African American in the entire country to get a PhD in physics.
While he was a student, Eagleson played in dance and string bands. This helped him pay for his college tuition. He was the first African American student chosen for Sigma Xi. This is an honorary society for science students. He was also the first African American at the university to earn an "I" letter for playing in the band.
However, in 1922, something unfair happened. As Eagleson was getting ready to receive his "I" letter, some white students targeted him. They tried to stop him from performing at a game against Purdue. Three white students took Eagleson to Spencer, Indiana. This made him miss the bus to the game. Eagleson was eventually found. His kidnappers were brought to trial, but they were not punished. Despite this difficult event, Eagleson still received his "I" letter for his musical talents.
Career as a Professor
In 1927, while still studying for his advanced degrees, Eagleson started teaching. He worked as an instructor in math and physics at Morehouse College. He also directed the college's band there.
In 1940, he became a physics professor. He also became the head of the Physics Department. This was a joint role at Morehouse College and Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University).
In 1947, he moved to Howard University as a physics professor. He taught there for 24 years. For three of those years, he was the chairman of the Physics Department at Howard. He taught physics to both undergraduate and graduate students. He also continued his research on acoustics, the study of sound.
After retiring from Howard, Eagleson continued to teach part-time. He taught physics at the University of Maryland and the University of the District of Columbia. He taught until 1989. That year, he had a stroke and stopped teaching permanently.
Besides his main teaching jobs, he also advised the National Science Foundation (NSF). He worked as a professor and staff member at NSF summer programs. These programs were held in many states, including Georgia, Alabama, and Maryland.
Eagleson also worked as a consultant for the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He advised them on noise pollution. He was also part of a group that reviewed scientific tools from Bell Labs. He was known for training many people who monitored radiation in the Washington, D.C. area.
Throughout his career, he was active in many professional groups. In 1948, he was the president of the National Institute of Science. This is one of the oldest science organizations for historically Black colleges and universities.
Lasting Impact
In 1972, the first official meeting of African American physicists took place. It was held at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. This event was called the Day of Scientific Lectures and Seminars (DOSLAS). This first meeting honored the work of Eagleson, John McNeile Hunter, and Donald A. Edwards. About 40 physicists attended. This meeting led to the creation of the National Society of Black Physicists. This important organization was officially started in 1977.
Awards
- Distinguished service award from the American Association of Physics Teachers
- Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America
- First person to receive the National Physics Fellow's Award
Personal Life
Eagleson was married two times. His first wife, Eula Strong, passed away during childbirth. He later married Helen B. Clark. They had two children together.
Outside of his work, Eagleson was active in his religious community. He was a member of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.. He was also part of The Gideons International group. He was a member of the National Capital Area Council of Churches. He also enjoyed fishing with the Anglers All group. Eagleson was very talented. He could speak Spanish, French, and German. He also played many musical instruments, including the piano, saxophone, clarinet, and violin.
