The Ray Dawson - Percy Julian Collection

Collection

Identifier: 93-01

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

For a more detailed inventory, please view this record in our library catalog: https://othmerlib.sciencehistory.org/record=b1063394~S6

The bulk of collection deals with Julian's Dioscorea project but there are some materials dealing with overall accomplishments as a scientist.

Dates

Creation: 1938-1993
Creation: Majority of material found within 1957-1960

Creator

Robinson, Robert, Sir, 1886-1975 (Person)
Upjohn Company (Organization)

Language of Materials

Text in English.

Biographical sketch

Percy Lavon Julian was born on April 11, 1899 in Montgomery, AL. He attended DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and after a brief time as an instructor of chemistry at Fisk University, he received a fellowship to pursue his M.S. degree at Harvard University. Unable to complete his Ph.D. at Harvard due to racial discrimination, a Rockefeller Foundation grant allowed him to travel to Vienna where he earned his Ph.D. in 1931. An outstanding research chemist, Julian was awarded over 138 individual patents for his work and later began his own company, Julian Laboratories Incorporated, to synthesize steroid intermediaries from Mexican wild yams. His Mexican operations were purchased by Smith Kline, while an operation he had set in Guatemala to cultivate and harvest Dioscorea was purchased by Upjohn. In 1964 Julian founded Julian Associates and the Julian Research Institute. Percy Lavon Julian was the first African American chemist admitted into the National Academy of Sciences. He died in Waukegan, IL on December 19 1975.

Extent

.88 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

This is a small but detailed collection of business and professional correspondence dealing with Percy Lavon Julian's project to cultivate and harvest Dioscorea in Guatemala for medicinal uses.

Arrangement

The materials have been left as found.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Dawson, Ray Fields. Method of acquisition--Gift;; Date of acquisition--1993..

Digitized Materials

A small portion of this collection has been digitized and is available online in our Digital Collections: https://digital.sciencehistory.org/collections/2z23kmu