Created by
Unidentified
Used by
Parsons, James A. Jr., American, 1900 - 1989
Subject of
Tennessee State University, American, founded 1912
Date
1956-1957
Medium
ink on paper, metal
Dimensions
H x W: 9 1/4 × 6 in. (23.5 × 15.2 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.
Parsons used this grade book as a professor at Tennessee A&I, where he established the first metallurgy program at any historically Black college or university.
Description
A brown student grade book used by James A. Parsons while teaching at Tennessee Agriculture & Industrial State College. The gradebook has silver spiral binding with handwritten text at the top [James A. Parsons / 1956-1957 / Tenn A&I State Univ] and printed black text at the center [THE EXTRA SPACE / CLASS RECORD / No. 102].
Place used
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
grade books
Topic
Education
Engineering
HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
Science
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Grant Shipp
Object number
2015.246.7.3
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd51065468b-db9e-4648-81e4-d7209117b513

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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