Samuel M. Nabrit
Encyclopedia
Samuel M. Nabrit, became the first African-American to be awarded a doctoral degree from Brown University
, the first Morehouse College graduate to earn a Ph.D. and the first African-American appointed to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
).
He also holds the distinction of being the first African-American to serve on the Brown University Board of Trustees.
Dr. Nabrit graduated from Morehouse College
in 1925, obtained his Master’s degree from Brown University in 1928 and received his doctorate in biology from Brown University
in 1932.
The next four African-American Ph.D. candidates at Brown University were students whom Nabrit taught at Morehouse.
His brother James Nabrit, Jr.
, also a graduate of Morehouse College, became the second African-American president of Howard University
and Deputy United States Ambassador to the United Nations
. He was married to the late Constance Croker.
Dr. Nabrit began his teaching career at Morehouse College in 1925 where was a professor of zoology and named Chair of the biology department in 1932.
He later became chairman of the biology department at Atlanta University in 1932, and became dean of the graduate school of arts and sciences at Atlanta University in 1947.
In 1950, Dr. Nabrit was a research fellow at the University of Brussels in Belgium
. The scientific papers Nabrit published, during this period, remained influential in the field for decades.
In 1955, he was named the second president of Texas Southern University
where he served as president until 1966. Between 1956 and 1962, Nabrit served on [President Dwight D. Eisenhower
’s National Science Board
.
He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy
to be the United States Ambassador to Niger
. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson
appointed Dr. Nabrit to the United States Atomic Energy Commission
. One year later, Dr. Nabrit founded the Southern Fellowship Fund in an effort to assist African-American students pursuing doctoral degrees. He directed the program (later known as the National Fellowship Fund of the Council of Southern Universities) well into his later years of life.
In 1945, he was a founding member of the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, and served as president of the National Institute of Science.
In 1967, Nabrit was elected to the Board of Trustees at Brown University.
Along with the Nabrit Fellowship established at Brown University in 1985, the Nabrit Black Graduate Student Association at Brown University is named in his honor.
In 1999, the university honored Nabrit with the hanging of a portrait alongside Brown’s most distinguished faculty.
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, the first Morehouse College graduate to earn a Ph.D. and the first African-American appointed to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
).
He also holds the distinction of being the first African-American to serve on the Brown University Board of Trustees.
Dr. Nabrit graduated from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in 1925, obtained his Master’s degree from Brown University in 1928 and received his doctorate in biology from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1932.
The next four African-American Ph.D. candidates at Brown University were students whom Nabrit taught at Morehouse.
Personal life
Born on February 21, 1905, in Macon, Georgia, Samuel Milton Nabrit was the son of James M. Nabrit, Sr., a Baptist minister and teacher, and Augusta G. West. One of eight children, all of whom received a college education, Nabrit was elected valedictorian of his high school class in 1921.His brother James Nabrit, Jr.
James Nabrit, Jr.
James Madison Nabrit, Jr. was a prominent civil rights attorney who won several important arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, served as president of Howard University from 1960 to 1965 and late 1966 to 1969 and was the father of James Nabrit, III who is also a civil rights attorney.James...
, also a graduate of Morehouse College, became the second African-American president of Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
and Deputy United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He was married to the late Constance Croker.
Professional life
An accomplished marine biologist, Dr. Nabrit studied the regeneration of the tail fins of injured fish at the Marine Biological Laboratory where he became the second African-American scientist to obtain membership into the Marine Biological Laboratory Corporation.Dr. Nabrit began his teaching career at Morehouse College in 1925 where was a professor of zoology and named Chair of the biology department in 1932.
He later became chairman of the biology department at Atlanta University in 1932, and became dean of the graduate school of arts and sciences at Atlanta University in 1947.
In 1950, Dr. Nabrit was a research fellow at the University of Brussels in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The scientific papers Nabrit published, during this period, remained influential in the field for decades.
In 1955, he was named the second president of Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
where he served as president until 1966. Between 1956 and 1962, Nabrit served on [President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
’s National Science Board
National Science Board
The National Science Board of the United States is composed of 25 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, representing the broad U.S. science and engineering community. The Board establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation within the framework...
.
He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to be the United States Ambassador to Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
appointed Dr. Nabrit to the United States Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
. One year later, Dr. Nabrit founded the Southern Fellowship Fund in an effort to assist African-American students pursuing doctoral degrees. He directed the program (later known as the National Fellowship Fund of the Council of Southern Universities) well into his later years of life.
In 1945, he was a founding member of the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, and served as president of the National Institute of Science.
In 1967, Nabrit was elected to the Board of Trustees at Brown University.
Along with the Nabrit Fellowship established at Brown University in 1985, the Nabrit Black Graduate Student Association at Brown University is named in his honor.
In 1999, the university honored Nabrit with the hanging of a portrait alongside Brown’s most distinguished faculty.
Selected works
- The Role of the Fin Rays in Tailfins of Fishes Fundulus and Goldfish, Biological Bulletin, April 1929.
- Human Ecology in Georgia, Science Education, October 1944.
- The Negro in Science, Negro History Bulletin, January 1957.