Marie Maynard Daly
The first Black woman in America to earn a PhD in Chemistry whose research led to saving the lives of millions of people from heart attacks!
Featuring artwork by Miler Ximena Lopez & words by Dr. Roopali Chaudhary, Sci-Illustrate Stories. Set in motion by Dr. Radhika Patnala.
From the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Depression, World War II, removal of racial segregation in education, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights and numerous riots for Black rights, Marie Maynard Daly lived through many changes in the American society. To say that she dealt with cumulative barriers during her journey in academia would be an understatement, however Marie created history without the intent of it. With a passion for science and a drive for excellence, Marie became the first Black woman to earn her PhD in Chemistry. Her work included studies on cholesterol, mechanics of the heart, effects of sugars on arteries, hypertension, and protein production and organization in a cell. In this piece, I’d like to celebrate her immense contribution to science.
Early life
Marie was born in Queens, New York in 1921 to a family with a strong belief in education. Her father was an immigrant from the West Indies who had to drop out of his chemistry studies at Cornell University due to economic circumstances. He worked as a postal worker…
