Bettye Washington Greene - Early Black American Pioneer in Science

Bettye Washington Greene
                                              March 20, 1935 - June 16, 1995

Bettye Washington Greene was born March 20, 1935, in Fort Worth, Texas. Even though slavery was eradicated, Texas state legislature instructed schools to be racially divided and interracial relationships felonies. Bettye attended I.M. Terrell High School which affiliated with the Black High School Study program. This program contributed to learning by bringing black teachers to enhance education through hands-on, experience-based, and problem-solving learning while including community and social projects. In 1955, Bettye graduated from HBCU Tuskegee Institute right as the civil rights era began earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. She continued her education at Wayne State University earning her Ph.D. in physical chemistry with mentor Wilfred Heller.

Bettye researched how to calibrate particle sizes to determine their best use in material applications. The importance of particle size in various industries were discovered. By using beams of light Bettye established particle sizes in a solution which calculated the diameter of particles present in liquid. While working at Dow, she studied the firm's synthetic latex. Due to her creative method using beams of light she was promoted to senior research scientist. Bettye became a member of Designed Polymers Research Division which her duties revolutionize the pharmaceuticals, coatings, cosmetics, paints, and catalysts.

Bettye received 3 patents: Latex based adhesive prepared by emulsion polymerization, Composite sheet prepared with stable latexes containing phosphorus surface groups, and Stable latexes containing phosphorus surface groups. In 1990, Bettye retired from Dow Chemical Company and passed away at age 60. In 2022 her alma mater, Wayne State University, initiated the Bettye Washington Greene Endowed Memorial Lecture Series in honor of Bettye.


Source: Bettye Washington Greene, Ph.D. - American Chemical Society (acs.org)

               Bettye Washington Greene - Wikipedia

                Dr. Bettye Washington Greene (1935-1995) - Science History Institute Digital Collections


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