The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-13
By DETON J. BROOKS JR.

Glidden and Company, one
OF the worlds largest manu-
facturers Of paints, was losing
money. Something was wrong
with the company's chemical
process. w. J. O'Brien. vice presi-
dent in charge OF manufacturing.
was baffled. He had searched al
over the country for a competent
research chemist who could correct
the problem and he hadn't been
successful.
This happened to be the sta-- OF
affairs when O'Brien visited the In.
stitute Of Paper Chemistry. located
in Appleton: Wise. in 1896. Dean
Lewis. director of the Institute.
didn't have time to discuss the
Glidden company headache. He had
one OF his own Lewis had secured
one OF the worlds most competent
organic chemists for his staff. DR.
Percy l. Julian. a Negro.
Blu, after all plans were made for
his coming. "old man" prejudice
reared his ugly head to block the
arrangement II was discovered that
Appleton had a statute prohibiting
the housing OF Negro overnight.
Gets idea
OBrien heard the directors tale
OF woe. He sympathized. but at the
same time he got an idea. There
weren't any such statutes in Chi
cago and his company wanted TO
stop losing money He slipped away
from the discussion and called Dr.
Julian long distance. an true busi-
ness fashion he arranged for IN In
terview and In .ightuing-like time
the Negro was hired to head the
research staff NJ the Chicago plant
BY the end OF the first year DR..
Julian had, cut the company's losses
TO $500 Then he outlined a COM
pletely new chemical procedure for
processing the products. His en-
ployers gave him everything that he
asked fora new plant and new
equipment, which entailee an outlay
OF over q million dollars But in q
year after the plant was finished.
the company showed $l35.00o
profit instead o' a loss
DR.. Julian started with . staff OF
four TodaJ he supervises 81 ex-
pert research chemists. ell OF them
white. And with the many expert.
ments under his Jurisdiction this
group Is not large enough
A Leading scientist
Or. Julian had arrived" when he
joined the Glidden company organi-
zstion. Although he was relatively
a young man OF 81. he had gone
through the process OF study
Of mastery OF his subject and the ira
ditional struggle OF all Negroes to
beat American prejudice.
Percy Julian was born in Mont
gomery. Ala. on April IL. 1859. He
attended the public grammar schools
and because there were no high
school facilities for Negroes. pre-
pared for college under private
tutors. When he entered DePsuw
at Greencastle. Ind. he
was classified as a "sub-freShman"
but graduated four years later with
the highest scholastic honors and
wearing the coveted Phi Beta Kappa
key. On graduation night this lone
Negro delivered the valedictory adj
dress.
In his first semester at DePsuw.
Julian registered for chemistry
under DR. william M Blanchard.
To him. DR.. Julian owes a great deal.
He was not only his teacher but he
was his bensfactor On the other
hand, Julian was "Godsend" to
Blanchard Through this young
Negro, the older white scientist was
able to break through a maze OF
narrow racial nores and learn that
men must be judged according TO
their true worth not because OF
color.
Teacher A SOutherner
Blanchard was a south 'rner from
North Carolina and when young
Percy entered his class he called him
TO his Office and tried 10 get him TO