Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Parsons, James A. Jr., American, 1900 - 1989
Parsons Harris, Wanda J., American
Parsons Shipp, Anne M., American
Date
ca. 1935
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 4 3/16 × 2 5/16 in. (10.6 × 5.9 cm)
H x W (sheet): 4 1/2 × 2 13/16 in. (11.4 × 7.1 cm)
Caption
James A. Parsons Jr. was a scientist, inventor, and university professor, whose research with rust resistant metals and iron alloys is credited with leading to the development of stainless steel. He developed Durimet 20, a corrosion-resistant stainless steel alloy also known as Alloy 20, which is still widely used today in a diverse range of industries including petrochemical, textile, nuclear, aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, textile and chemical and food processing.
Born in 1900, Parsons grew up in Dayton, OH, where his father worked as a butler for Pierce Schenk, the founder of metal manufacturer Duriron Co. Schenk covered Parsons’ tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in exchange for Parsons’ work over summer breaks. Parsons graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1922 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and returned to working at Duriron Co., where he eventually established what was likely the first all-Black industrial research laboratory. Over the course of his career, Parsons received eight patents, won the Harmon Medal in 1928 for his scientific achievements, and had a distinguished teaching career at Tennessee Agriculture and Industrial State College (now Tennessee State University) and Ohio State University.
Description
A black-and-white photograph of James A. Parsons Jr. and two of his children, Wanda and Anne. They are all standing outside of a building with columns seen in the background on the right. Parson is wearing a light color suit with a tie and is holding a hat with a ribbon in his proper right hand and holding the hand of his youngest child, Anne, with his proper left hand. Anne wears a light-colored dress and bonnet. Parson’s oldest child, Wanda, stands next to Anne, wearing a dark coat and a hat. On the back of the photograph, at the center, is an inscription written in ink [Jm Parsons & Daughters].
Place captured
Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
Children
Engineering
Families
Fatherhood
Photography
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Grant Shipp
Object number
2015.246.11
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd577e1b2cb-963d-4bbf-9070-64c0f330184d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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