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African-American physicist turned to teaching others
Monday, February 21, 2000
Edward Bouchet was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1852. He was the son of William and Susan Bouchet, who had moved there from Charleston, S.C., for work.
Edward was an excellent student and he graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. In 1870, he entered Yale and four years later became the first African American to graduate from that university.
With his strong interest in science and an excellent academic record, Edward stayed on and enrolled in graduate studies. In 1876 he earned his Ph.D. in physics with a dissertation on measuring the bending of light. This accomplishment made him the first African American to earn a doctorate from an American University.
Bouchet was one of only a handful of physicists in the United States at the time, and he had some of the most impressive credentials available. But the Civil War had ended little more than a decade earlier and Bouchet quickly learned that as an African American his opportunities were still severely limited. In spite of his qualifications, he was unable to find a research position at the college level.
Bouchet was disheartened, but from his parents he had learned the value of community. He decided to help other African Americans further their educations. Dr. Bouchet accepted a teaching position at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia. The Institute was well respected for its high academic standards, and Bouchet became a key member of the faculty. He spent nearly 30 years at the Institute, teaching physics and chemistry to African-American high school students who planned to go on to college.
-- By John G. Radzilowicz, director. Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory
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