Thomas L. Jennings
1791 – 1859
A tailor in New York City, Jennings is credited with being the first African American to hold a U.S. patent. The patent, which was issued in 1821, was for a dry-cleaning process.
David Nelson Crosthwait, Jr.
1898 – 1976
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, David Crosthwait held numerous patents relating to heat transfer, ventilation, and air conditoning, the areas in which he was considered an expert. Holding B. S. and M. S. degrees from Purdue University in engineering, Crosthwait began working as a research engineer and director of research laboratories for C. A. Dunham Company, in Marshalltown, Iowa. He served as technical advisor to Dunham from 1930 to 1970 and, in addition to designing the heating system for Radio City Music Hall in New York City, he authored texts and guides on heating and cooling with water. After his retirement in 1970, Crosthwait taught at Purdue University.
Jewel Plummer Cobb
Born: 1/17/1924
Birthplace: Chicago, Ill.
Jewel Plummer Cobb has had wide-ranging influence in the sciences. Awarded a Ph.D. in cell physiology from New York University in 1950, she has served as a researcher, a college professor and administrator, as well as a staunch supporter for greater minority participation in scientific careers. Much of Cobb’s research has been focused on the skin pigment melanin, and her most significant research has been with testing new chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells, the impact of which continues. She has held several teaching and administrative positions at major universities. From 1960 to 1969, she was a professor at Sarah Lawrence College. From 1969 to 1976 she served as Dean and Professor of Zoology at Connecticut College. From 1976 to 1981, Cobb served as Dean and Professor of Biology at Douglass College, the women’s college at Rutgers University. From 1981 to 1990 Cobb was President of California State University at Fullerton where she spearheaded efforts to increase the quality and diversity of both the student population and the faculty. A supporter of equal access to educational and professional opportunity, Cobb has written often about racial and sexual discrimination in the sciences, and has raised funds to allow more minorities to enter into the field. Since her retirement, Cobb, who was named President and Professor of Biological Science, Emerita at California State University at Fullerton and Trustee Professor at California State University at Los Angeles, has continued her research.
Herman Russell Branson
1914 – 1995
As chair of the Department of Physics at Howard University, Herman Branson helped the scientific community gain new insight into organic molecules and biological systems. His collaboration with Robert B. Corey and Nobel laureate Linus B. Pauling led to the identification of the alpha and gamma helical structures of proteins. An innovative researcher, Branson formed cross-disciplinary research teams of physicians, engineers, mathematicians, biologists, chemists, and physicists to facilitate study. After more than two decades of trailblazing research, Branson went on to serve as president at two historically black colleges, Central State University in Ohio (1968-1970) and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (1970-1985).
Edward Alexander Bouchet
1852 – 1918
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Bouchet was the first African American to graduate (1874) from Yale College. In 1876, upon receiving his Ph.D. in physics from Yale, he became the first African American to earn a doctorate. Bouchet spent his career teaching college chemistry and physics.