Carolyn Parker's Freedom Dreams in Physics

Carolyn B. Parker (1917–1966) was the first African American woman to receive a postgraduate degree in physics. Her inspiring story has been the subject of many, albeit brief online articles, which typically center on her pursuit of graduate degrees, her participation in classified wartime research, and her premature death. Parker’s life, however, has not been given as much scholarly attention as it deserves. This chapter interrogates archival silences and fragmentary evidence to explore Parker’s experiences as she navigated intersectional barriers in pursuit of her dream to become a quantum physicist in the racially segregated academic and professional landscapes of mid-century America. Her career illustrates the challenges faced by African American women in physics, raising broader questions about how race and gender shaped scientific recognition and participation in the U.S.