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| Name | Percy L. Julian |
| Birth/Death Dates | 1899-1975 |
| Where in Indiana | Putnam County--Greencastle |
| When in Indiana | 1916-1920, 1932-1935 |
| Notable For | Following his graduation from State Normal School for Negroes in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1916, Julian travelled to Greencastle, Indiana, to enroll at DePauw University. He was the only black student there. He majored in chemistry and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. He was valedictorian of his class. Because of his race he had difficulty going on to graduate school or getting a job in his field. He was able to study in Austria and earned a Ph.D. He returned to DePauw in 1932 as a research fellow in organic chemistry. He was able to synthesize physostigmine, a natural element which relieves the discomfort of glaucoma sufferers. He went on to work for the Glidden Company of Chicago as Director of Research of the Vegetable Oil and Food Division and Manager of Fine Chemicals. He was responsible for the development of the Soya Products Division. His work led to the use of synthetic cortisone for treatment of arthritis, a drug for lowering blood pressure, and a foam for extinguishing oil and gasoline fires. He authored numerous scientific publications and secured 105 patents. The science building on the DePauw campus was named the Percy L. Julian Science and Mathematics Center in his honor. |
| Description | Dr. Julian is shown standing in a chemistry laboratory wearing a lab coat. Test tubes are in a tray on the table along with other chemistry equipment. |
| Subject | Julian, Percy L.
Chemical industry
Teachers
Scientists
Scientific equipment
Chemistry
DePauw University
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| Item ID | P0303_BOX78_FOLDER10_UNNUMBERED_001 |
| Source of Image | Indianapolis Recorder Collection (P 0303) |
| Digital Collection | Notable Hoosiers (DC 010) |
| Bibliography/Notes | Photograph by Edgar S. Brinker Photography, Philadelphia, PA. Information taken from Black History News & Notes Number 40 |
| Copyright Notice | Digital image © 2005 Indiana Historical Society. All Rights Reserved. |
