Percy Julian
(1899-1975)

By Jennifer T.
Grade 3
New Jersey

Percy Julian was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He was a bright student when he was younger. The city where he lived did not provide an education for black children beyond the eighth grade. Through his persistence he attended DePauw University in Indiana as a "sub-freshman". He graduated from DePauw University at the top of his class.

After Graduation, Mr. Julian took a teaching position as Fisk University. He later attended Harvard University to get his masters degree. He continued to take teaching positions before going to the University of Vienna for his doctorate degree in chemistry in 1931.

Dr. Julian returned to DePauw University and began to study Plants used for medicine such as the African calabar bean. In 1935, with Dr Joseph Piki, he first synthesized from this plant and ingredient that could be used to help reduce pressure inside the eyeball (glaucoma). This discovery brought him worldwide acclaim.

Dr. Julian then became a lab director at the Glidden Company. In 1939, he used soybean to develop male and female hormones (progesterone and testosterone). These hormones were helpful in treating cancer and problem pregnancies. During World War II, Mr. Julian developed a foam from soy protein that could put our oil and gas fires. This new discovery was quickly used by the military.

In 1948, the Mayo Clinic announced that a compound called cortisone could be helpful to relieve arthritis. However, it was difficult to obtain cortisone. By 1948, Dr. Julian and his co-workers created synthetic (man-made, not from nature) cortisone. This new product was less expensive but just as effective as the real stuff. This was a major achievement and one of Dr. Julian's most famous discoveries.

Dr. Julian held more than 100 chemical patents, wrote many papers, and received dozens of awards and honorary degrees. He founded and was president of Julian Laboratories, Inc. with locations in both the United States and Mexico. Dr. Julian married Anna Johnson in 1935, also a doctor. His family eventually moved to Oak Park, Illinois in 1951. His house was fire bombed twice but the community stood by the family. Dr. Percy Julian died of liver cancer in 1975. In 1985, Dr. Julian's memory was honored with having the Hawthorne School renamed the Percy Julian Middle School.

References

http://www.pbs.orp/wgbh/aso/databank/entires/bmjuli.html

http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/percyjulian.html

http://www.julian.op97.org - Percy Julian Middle School Website

 

 

 

Jennifer, as Dr. Julian, the day she presented her report to her class.