Percy Lavon Julian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Percy Lavon Julian
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Julian c. 1940–1968
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| Born | April 11, 1899 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
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| Died | April 19, 1975 (aged 76) Waukegan, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | DePauw University (B.A.) Harvard University (M.S.) University of Vienna (PhD) |
| Occupation | Chemist |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Roselle Johnson
(m. 1935) |
| Children | 2 |
Percy Lavon Julian (born April 11, 1899 – died April 19, 1975) was an amazing African American chemist. He became famous for his important work with soybeans and for creating new medicines. Many people consider him one of the most important chemists of the 1900s.
Julian held over 130 patents for his chemical inventions. He was also one of the first African Americans to earn a high-level degree called a doctorate in chemistry. He was the first African-American chemist to join the National Academy of Sciences, which is a very special group of top scientists.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Percy Julian was the oldest of six children. His parents, James and Elizabeth Julian, believed that education was super important. They both went to college at what is now Alabama State University. They wanted all their children to go to college too.
However, it was hard for African Americans to get good education opportunities back then. Julian went to DePauw University in Indiana. There, he faced segregation, meaning he was treated differently because of his race. He had to live off-campus and work many small jobs to pay for school. Even with these challenges, he was the best student in his class and graduated in 1920 with a chemistry degree.
Julian really wanted to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. But racial barriers made it tough. Luckily, he got a special scholarship to study at the University of Vienna in Austria. He earned his doctorate there in 1931. This time in Austria allowed him to study science freely, without the racial unfairness he faced in the United States.
Career Highlights
After coming back from Vienna, Julian taught at Howard University for a year.
Later, the Glidden Company, which made products from soybean oil, asked Julian to lead their research team. He worked there for 18 years. In 1953, Julian decided to start his own company, called Julian Laboratories, Inc.
In 1964, Julian started two more companies: Julian Associates and Julian Research Institute. He ran these companies for the rest of his life. Julian also helped create the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of Chicago. He served on the boards of many different organizations and universities.
Amazing Discoveries
Percy Julian’s work changed the world of chemistry and medicine. Here are some of his most important inventions:
Medicines from Plants
Julian was a leader in using plants to make medicines. In 1935, he created physostigmine from the calabar bean. This medicine is used to treat glaucoma, an eye disease. This was a huge step forward in making new drugs.
Soybean Inventions
Julian found ways to get important chemicals from soybeans. He created a special foam made from soy called Aer-O-Foam. The U.S. Navy used this foam to fight fires during World War II. This invention helped save many lives.
Hormones and Steroids
Julian also figured out how to make hormones like progesterone and testosterone from soybean oil. These hormones are very important for treating many health problems, like infertility and arthritis. His work made these treatments cheaper and easier to get for people who needed them.
Making Cortisone Easier
One of Julian’s most famous achievements was making it easier to produce cortisone. Cortisone is a medicine used to treat arthritis. His method made cortisone much cheaper and simpler to create. This helped millions of people around the world.
Overcoming Challenges
Julian faced many difficulties because of his race. He was often denied teaching jobs and other work opportunities.
In 1923, he received a special scholarship to attend Harvard University for his M.S.. However, Harvard worried that white students might not like being taught by an African American. So, they took away Julian's teaching assistant job. This made it impossible for him to finish his Ph.D. there.
In 1936, Julian was not given a professor job at DePauw because of his race. A company called DuPont offered a job to one of his colleagues but refused to hire Julian. They said they didn't know he was Black, even though he was a highly skilled chemist.
Around 1950, Julian and his family moved to Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. They were the first African-American family to live there. Some neighbors welcomed them, but others were against it. Before they even moved in, their home was attacked with fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1950. Later, after they moved in, their house was attacked with dynamite in June 1951. These attacks brought the community together, and a group was formed to support the Julians. Julian's son later shared that he and his father often sat on their front porch with a shotgun to protect their home.
Despite these hard times, Julian stayed strong. He used his success to fight for civil rights. He became a role model for African Americans in science. He also supported groups like the NAACP.
Personal Life
On December 24, 1935, Percy Julian married Anna Roselle. She also had a Ph.D. in Sociology. They had two children: Percy Lavon Julian, Jr., who became a civil rights lawyer, and Faith Roselle Julian.
Death
Percy Julian passed away from liver cancer in Waukegan, Illinois, on April 19, 1975. He was 76 years old.
Legacy and Impact
Percy Julian’s work created the foundation for many modern medicines and chemical processes. He held over 130 patents and received many awards. One important award was the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. His discoveries made life better for millions of people. He also inspired many future scientists.
Fun Facts About Percy Julian
- Julian's father, James, worked for the United States Postal Service. His mother, Elizabeth, was a schoolteacher.
- The U.S. Navy called Julian’s soy-based fire foam “bean soup.”
- Percy Julian could speak German very well.
- He was the first African American chemist to join the National Academy of Sciences.
- The TV show Nova made a documentary about his life called "Forgotten Genius."
- You can find Percy Lavon Julian's family papers at DePauw University.
Honors and Recognition
- In 1947, he received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.
- The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper named Percy Julian the Chicagoan of the Year in 1950.
- In 1973, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences for his amazing scientific work. He was the second African American to join this group.
- Since 1975, a group called the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers has given out the Percy L. Julian Award.
- In 1975, Percy L. Julian High School opened in Chicago, Illinois.
- The science and math building at DePauw University was renamed the Percy L. Julian Mathematics and Science Center in 1980. A street in Greencastle, Indiana, was also named after him.
- In 1985, Hawthorne School in Oak Park, Illinois, was renamed Percy Julian Middle School.
- Illinois State University named a hall after him.
- A building at Coppin State University is called the Percy Julian Science Building.
- In 1990, he was added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
- In 1993, the United States Postal Service honored him with a postage stamp.
- In 1999, the American Chemical Society recognized his work on physostigmine as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.
- In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante included Percy Lavon Julian on his list of the 100 Greatest African Americans.
- In 2011, a committee at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine was named for Percy Julian.
- In 2014, Google honored him with a special Doodle on their homepage.
- In 2019, an asteroid was named 5622 Percyjulian in his memory.
See also
In Spanish: Percy Lavon Julian para niños
