Dr. St. Elmo Brady (December 22, 1884 – December 26, 1966) was a pioneering African-American chemist who made significant contributions to science education and research. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Brady was encouraged to pursue higher education and attended Fisk University, where he graduated with a B.S. in chemistry in 1908. After graduation, he began his teaching career at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), where he was mentored by renowned scientists, including George Washington Carver.
Brady’s academic journey continued at the University of Illinois, where he received a scholarship to pursue graduate studies. He earned his M.S. in chemistry in 1914 and completed his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1916, becoming the first African American to obtain this degree in the United States. He was also the first African American in Phi Lamba Upsilon, the chemistry honor society (1914), and first to be inducted into Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society (1915). His research interests included organic acids, infrared spectroscopy, and halogen compounds. Brady’s career was dedicated to advancing chemistry education at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). He taught at Tuskegee Institute and later served as chair of the chemistry department at Howard University before moving to Fisk University.
At Fisk University, Brady spent 25 years developing the undergraduate curricula and founded the first graduate chemistry program at an HBCU. Even after his official retirement in 1952, Dr. Brady continued to contribute to chemistry education by collaborating with educators at other institutions. He worked on establishing chemistry departments at primarily black institutions, leaving behind a lasting impact on chemistry education. Dr. St. Elmo Brady passed away on December 26, 1966, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 82, having paved the way for future generations of African-American scientists. His legacy was recognized by the American Chemical Society with a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2019.
References:
- https://www.sciencehistory.org/education/scientific-biographies/st-elmo-brady/
- https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/st-elmo-brady.html
- https://chemistry.illinois.edu/spotlight/alumni/brady-st-elmo-1884-1966
- https://chemistry.illinois.edu/system/files/2022-02/St.%20Elmo%20Brady%20Bull.Hist_.Chem_._2021_46_83.pdf
Image: By http://chemistry.uiuc.edu/bios/images/brady_stelmo.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9494164
