Profile: William Jacob Knox, Jr., Ph.D., Supervisor on the Manhattan Project

Chemist • Educator • Manhattan Project Supervisor 

Before he became the Manhattan Project's only Black supervisor, William J. Knox, Jr. had already spent years preparing for a career few Black scientists of his generation were given the opportunity to pursue. At Columbia University, his knowledge of chemistry and corrosive materials became part of the effort to separate uranium isotopes. In a project defined by secrecy and segregation, Knox led the Corrosion Section—an extraordinary position for any scientist in the 1940s. His presence there challenges the familiar image of who was involved in some of the twentieth century's most important scientific work.  They Were There.

Overview:

Dr. William Jacob Knox, Jr. (1904 -1995) was a chemist whose career carried him from Harvard and MIT to one of the most secret scientific programs in American history. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Harvard and later received both a master's degree and Ph.D. from MIT. During World War II, Knox joined a Columbia University research team working with uranium hexafluoride in efforts to separate uranium isotopes. He was eventually appointed head of the all-white Corrosion Section, making him the Manhattan Project's only Black supervisor.

After the war, Knox became the second Black Ph.D. chemist hired by Eastman Kodak. During a 25-year career there, he received 21 patents for his work in chemistry and photographic technology. He also became an important advocate for civil rights and housing equality in Rochester, New York.

Primary Source Spotlight:

William J. Knox Jr.: A 1943 Invention

These images show U.S. Patent No. 2,333,578, “Electrolytic Chromate Production,” patented on November 2, 1943, to William J. Knox Jr. and Richard A. Kelly. The invention improved the way chromate chemicals were produced on an industrial scale.

The process used electricity to make chromate, but as the process continued, the chemical solution became less effective. Knox and Kelly developed a way to keep the solution working by restoring the chemicals needed to produce chromate. This allowed manufacturers to produce chromate more efficiently and consistently, rather than having the process slow down or require frequent replacement of the solution.

The left image shows the written explanation of the invention. The right shows the system of tanks, pipes, and electrical cells used in the process. Together, these pages provide a primary-source record of Knox's work as an inventor and chemical engineer during World War II.

Quick Facts:

• Born: January 5, 1904, in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

• Died: July 9, 1995, in Newton, Massachusetts.

• Earned a B.A. in chemistry from Harvard University.

• Earned an M.S. from MIT in 1929 and a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1935.

• His doctoral dissertation was titled “The Absorption of Light by Nitrogen Tetroxide.”

• Taught chemistry at historically Black colleges, including North Carolina A&T and Talladega College.

• Worked at Columbia University on research involving uranium isotope separation.

• Became the only Black supervisor on the Manhattan Project, leading the Corrosion Section.

• Became the second Black Ph.D. chemist hired by Eastman Kodak.

• Received 21 patents during his 25-year career at Kodak.

• His brothers Everett and Lawrence also earned doctorates; Lawrence Knox was also involved in Manhattan Project-related work.

Why This Story Matters:

William J. Knox Jr.'s story challenges the idea that Black scientists were absent from the most important scientific work of the twentieth century. At a time when racism limited opportunities in education, housing, and professional life, Knox earned advanced degrees, conducted significant chemical research, and became the only Black supervisor on the Manhattan Project.

His achievements did not end with the war. Knox turned his scientific knowledge into a successful civilian career, earning 21 patents at Eastman Kodak. He also used his experiences with discrimination to fight for housing equality and civil rights. His life demonstrates that scientific achievement and the struggle for equal opportunity were often deeply connected.

Legacy:

William J. Knox, Jr.'s legacy extends far beyond the Manhattan Project. A pioneering chemist, educator, research leader, inventor, and civil rights advocate, he built an extraordinary career at a time when few Black Americans had access to advanced scientific training or leadership opportunities. During World War II, his expertise with the corrosion problems caused by highly reactive uranium hexafluoride gas led to his appointment as head of Columbia University's all-white Corrosion Section. The work was part of the difficult effort to separate uranium isotopes, including uranium-235, which could sustain a nuclear chain reaction. 

After the war, Knox continued to break barriers in private industry. During a 25-year career at Eastman Kodak, he specialized in surfactants and conducted research that helped improve photographic film manufacturing and image quality. He earned 21 patents and became highly respected for his scientific expertise. But Knox's work did not end at the laboratory door. He also confronted discrimination and became active in efforts to expand housing opportunities and advance civil rights in Rochester through organizations including the Rochester Urban League, the NAACP, and housing-related groups.

Knox's life challenges the narrow and persistent image of who has shaped American science. Long before modern conversations about diversity in STEM, he was conducting advanced chemical research, leading scientific teams, inventing new technologies, and using his influence to fight for greater opportunity beyond the laboratory. William J. Knox, Jr. was there—at the intersection of chemistry, the Atomic Age, innovation, and the continuing struggle for equal opportunity.

Discussion Questions:

1. What barriers do you imagine William J. Knox Jr. had to overcome to become a scientist and research leader?

2. Being a supervisor means being responsible not only for your own work but also for helping others succeed. What is the difference between being good at something and being good at leading others who are doing it?

3. William J. Knox Jr. continued his work as a scientist after the war, but his life also changed in other ways. Do you think a person should be defined mainly by the job they do? What other parts of a person's life might reveal who they are and what they value? Explain your answer.

Reflection Prompt:

1. William J. Knox Jr. succeeded in science despite facing discrimination in education, housing, and professional life. How might his experiences have influenced both his determination to succeed and his later work for civil rights and housing equality?

Sources & Further Reading:

1. “CCB Spotlight: William Knox, A.B. ’23 & Lawrence Knox, Ph.D. ’40.” Harvard University Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. February 25, 2022. Website. 

2. “William J. Knox, Jr., ca. 1925.” MIT Black History Project. Website. 

3. “William Jacob Knox Jr. (1904–1995).” BlackPast. Website. 

4. “Black History Month: 5 Facts About Dr. William Jacob Knox Jr.” U.S. Department of Energy. February 28, 2019. Website. 

5. William J. Knox Jr. and Richard A. Kelly. “Electrolytic Chromate Production.” U.S. Patent No. 2,333,578. Document. United States Patent Office. 

6. “William J. Knox, Jr., ca. 1925.” MIT Black History Project. ca. 1925. Photograph. 

Page Navigation:

<Previous   The Atomic Bomb   Next Profile>