Issued by
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, American, founded 1921
Received by
Parsons, James A. Jr., American, 1900 - 1989
Signed by
Dougherty, Nathan W., American, 1886 - 1977
Jackson, Granbery Jr., American, 1906 - 1977
Date
1954
Medium
ink on paper on cardboard
Dimensions
H x W: 15 × 11 in. (38.1 × 27.9 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 certificate from the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners awarded to James Albert Parsons, Jr. on October 4th, 1954. The certificate is printed in black ink on off-white paper, with the certificate number [2824] and date completed by hand. There is a printed Tennessee state seal at top center, and an affixed gold seal in the front, lower left corner. The certificate states that Parsons is qualified and licensed to practice engineering. It is signed by the agency’s chairman, Nathan W. Dougherty, and the secretary [James] Granbery Jackson Jr.
Place depicted
Tennessee, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Type
certificates
Topic
Associations and institutions
Engineering
Science
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Grant Shipp
Object number
2015.246.4
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd537769dd9-9886-4144-b919-012a34b740d7

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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