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Five Fast Facts About Blanche J. Lawrence

The second woman from the Manhattan Project we're highlighting this month is Blanche J. Lawrence.

Energy.gov

March 15, 2018
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Illustration of Blanche Lawrence, a technician at the Met Lab during the Manhattan Project

It’s Women’s History Month on Energy.gov. During the month of March, we’re highlighting the great contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields made by women who worked on the Manhattan Project, the top-secret program during World War II that ushered in the nuclear age. See the rest of our coverage at energy.gov/manhattanproject. 

Blanche J. Lawrence worked in the Health Division of the University of Chicago's Metallurgical Laboratory or "Met Lab" during the Manhattan Project. She was one of the few African-American women scientists of her day.  

Here are some more interesting facts about Blanche Lawrence: 

  1. She began working as a technician and, just five years later, became a junior biochemist at the lab. At a time when many African-Americans were only given the opportunity to work as janitors and laborers, this was a big accomplishment.  

  2. She graduated from Tuskegee University, where she belonged to the Physical Education Club and the Creative Dance Group 

  3. After World War II, she continued working at the Met Lab's successor, Argonne National Lab 

  4. In September 1949, she was featured in aEbony Magazine issue focusing on "Atom Scientists."  

  5. She was the widow of a Tuskegee Airman, Captain Erwin Lawrence. Her husband died on a mission over an enemy airfield near Athens, Greece.  

Allison Lantero

Allison Lantero headshot

Allison Lantero served as Digital Content Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs. She cohosted the Department of Energy's flagship podcast, Direct Current. Before joining the DOE team, Allison worked at the Department of Transportation in Public Affairs.

In her spare time Allison enjoys listening to podcasts, trivia, and singing in a gospel choir. She hails from Chicago and is currently in search of a decent italian beef sandwich in D.C.

Tags:
  • Careers
  • National Labs
  • Nuclear Energy

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