Katheryn Emanuel Lawson facts for kids

Katheryn Lee Emanuel Lawson (born September 15, 1926 – died September 25, 2008) was an important African American chemist. She was one of the first women of color to work at Sandia National Laboratories. There, she studied how materials changed when exposed to radiation. She earned her PhD in radiochemistry from the University of New Mexico in 1957.

Early Life and Education

Katheryn Emanuel was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on September 15, 1926. Her parents were John Venus Emanuel and Ida L. Gillispe. She attended schools that were separated by race.

In 1941, she graduated from high school as the second-highest-ranking student. She then went to Dillard College (now Dillard University) in New Orleans. This was a historically black college. In 1945, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Science. She graduated with honors.

Two years later, Emanuel went to Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). There, she worked on her Master's Degree in organic chemistry. During this time, she also taught chemistry. She was an assistant professor at several historically black colleges. These included Bishop College, Savannah State University, Talladega College, and Grambling State University.

By 1954, Emanuel became an Associate Professor of chemistry. She taught at Central State College (now Central State University) in Ohio. Later, she received a special offer to study for her PhD. This opportunity was at the University of New Mexico. In 1957, Lawson completed her PhD in radiochemistry. Her main research was about how a metal called indium behaved at very low levels.

Career as a Chemist

Katheryn Emanuel Lawson began her career in 1957. She worked as a biochemist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A year later, she was invited to join Sandia National Laboratories. She worked in the Crystal Physics Research Division.

At that time, Sandia Labs needed scientists with PhDs. They were working on developing new technologies. Lawson's job was to study materials. She analyzed the tiny structures of materials that had been exposed to radiation. She also looked at how light interacted with certain metals. She tested their electrical and magnetic properties. Her work helped prove the Crystal field theory, which explains how atoms bond together.

While at Sandia National Labs, Lawson published many important papers and books. Her works included studies on how tiny amounts of substances behave. She also wrote about how different materials absorb infrared light. Another work was a list of references about ion-exchange resins. These are materials used to purify liquids. She also studied how protective materials reacted to heat. In 1965, she and her husband were featured in Ebony Magazine.

Later in her career, Lawson helped young African Americans. She joined the National Urban League's Black Executive Exchange Program. She advised young people to go to college. She also helped white managers understand and support them. After 1963, she also served on the Fair Housing Board in Albuquerque. This board worked to ensure fair housing for everyone.

In the 1970s, Lawson also worked at Bendix Corporation Research Labs. This was in Southfield, Michigan. She was a member of the American Chemical Society.

Personal Life

Katheryn Emanuel married Kenneth Lawson in 1954. He was also a chemist and bacteriologist. At the time, he was studying for his PhD at the University of New Mexico. The couple had two sons. Their first son, William, was born while Katheryn was still in graduate school. Their second son was Kenneth Jr. Katheryn Lawson passed away in Farmington, Michigan on September 25, 2008.