The Lessons and Legacy of Carolyn Beatrice Parker

As the stories and contributions of African American female scientists are placed into their historical context, these scientists are often referred to as "hidden figures". In her time, however, Carolyn Beatrice Parker was known in her community for her work as a research physicist and assistant professor. Later, she would become the first African American woman to receive an advanced degree in physics, and she nearly was the first to receive a physics doctorate before she died from leukemia at the age of 48. This talk summarizes Carolyn Beatrice Parker's life story and places it into the broader context of under-representation of African American women in physics.