Walter Cooper (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Walter Cooper, Ph.D. is an American
scientist
, humanitarian, activist, and educator. Primarily a research scientist, he was also heavily involved in civil rights work both in Rochester, New York
and in Mali
.
in 1946, where he was a star football
player. He received his Bachelor of Science from Washington and Jefferson College in 1951. He originally attempted to enter industry, but he soon realized that the corporate world was demanding more of black professionals, and he decided to pursue a higher degree. He briefly attended Howard University
. In 1956 he became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry
from the University of Rochester
. Cooper often said "I became a scientist because I did not see any black scientists. I looked around and I saw black doctors, black lawyers, but no black scientists. I chose that as a challenge."
as a research scientist in 1956. Starting out as a research chemist, he was promoted successively to senior research chemist, research associate and technical associate. In 1985, he was named manager of the office of technical communications, overseeing the publications and technical reports of 2,300 scientific and research personnel. In addition, he managed the office of research innovation. During his career, Cooper published a wide array of scholarly papers in the fields of chemistry and physical chemistry and became the holder of three patents. He was featured as a black professional in "about...time" magazine. He retired from Kodak in 1986.
In 1988 he was appointed to the Board of Regents
of the New York State. In 2003, he left the board and became a Regent Emeritus.
In 1975, Cooper was elected to the Board of Trustees of Washington and Jefferson College, where Cooper completed his undergraduate work.
. Dr. Cooper served the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) as the Rochester branch president. He co-founded the Rochester branch of the Urban League in 1965, continuing to serve on the Board of Directors into the 1970s. He was also a board member of the Baden Street Settlement, a non-profit organization working with northeast Rochester residents to improve the quality of life.
When the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
was passed, Cooper took a leave of absence from Kodak to help form an anti-poverty agency in Rochester called Action for a Better Community, Inc or ABC. He served as the Associate Director for two years, then as Executive Director. The organization established a local version of the national Head Start Program, along with other aid programs.
, Mali
in 1975. As part of the program he worked with Rochester Institute of Technology
to establish scholarships for students from Bamako. Due to his work, he was named a Knight of the National Order of Mali in 1981.
In 2005, SUNY Geneseo granted him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
In 2010, Rochester city school number 10 was named the Dr. Walter Cooper Academy in his honor. The school emphasizes research and interactive learning, the methodology Cooper promoted during his time as a Regent of the State of New York and as the education committee chair of the Urban League of Rochester.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
, humanitarian, activist, and educator. Primarily a research scientist, he was also heavily involved in civil rights work both in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and in Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
.
Education
Cooper's parents, Alonzo and Luda Cooper, were strong proponents of education, and Cooper often said "Not to educate a child is the worst form of child abuse." He graduated from Clairton High SchoolClairton City School District
The Clairton City School District is a diminutive, suburban public school district. The Clairton City School District encompasses approximately serving the City of Clairton in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 8,491...
in 1946, where he was a star football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He received his Bachelor of Science from Washington and Jefferson College in 1951. He originally attempted to enter industry, but he soon realized that the corporate world was demanding more of black professionals, and he decided to pursue a higher degree. He briefly attended Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. In 1956 he became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. Cooper often said "I became a scientist because I did not see any black scientists. I looked around and I saw black doctors, black lawyers, but no black scientists. I chose that as a challenge."
Career
Cooper was hired by Eastman KodakEastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
as a research scientist in 1956. Starting out as a research chemist, he was promoted successively to senior research chemist, research associate and technical associate. In 1985, he was named manager of the office of technical communications, overseeing the publications and technical reports of 2,300 scientific and research personnel. In addition, he managed the office of research innovation. During his career, Cooper published a wide array of scholarly papers in the fields of chemistry and physical chemistry and became the holder of three patents. He was featured as a black professional in "about...time" magazine. He retired from Kodak in 1986.
In 1988 he was appointed to the Board of Regents
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
of the New York State. In 2003, he left the board and became a Regent Emeritus.
In 1975, Cooper was elected to the Board of Trustees of Washington and Jefferson College, where Cooper completed his undergraduate work.
Rochester, New York
A man of the times, Cooper was heavily involved in community development and civil rights issues, especially educational opportunities and motivation. There was a great deal of social turmoil present in Rochester, as shown by the 1964 Rochester Race RiotsRochester 1964 race riot
The Rochester 1964 riot was a riot that occurred in 1964 in Rochester, New York, in the United States. In the early evening of Friday, July 24, 1964, the Rochester Police Department attempted to arrest a 19 year-old intoxicated black male at a street block party and dance...
. Dr. Cooper served the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP) as the Rochester branch president. He co-founded the Rochester branch of the Urban League in 1965, continuing to serve on the Board of Directors into the 1970s. He was also a board member of the Baden Street Settlement, a non-profit organization working with northeast Rochester residents to improve the quality of life.
When the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson on August 20, 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was central to Johnson's Great Society campaign and its War on Poverty. Implemented by the since disbanded Office of Economic Opportunity, the Act included several social programs to promote the health, education,...
was passed, Cooper took a leave of absence from Kodak to help form an anti-poverty agency in Rochester called Action for a Better Community, Inc or ABC. He served as the Associate Director for two years, then as Executive Director. The organization established a local version of the national Head Start Program, along with other aid programs.
Mali
Cooper established Rochester's Sister City program with BamakoBamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
in 1975. As part of the program he worked with Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
to establish scholarships for students from Bamako. Due to his work, he was named a Knight of the National Order of Mali in 1981.
Recognition
In 2008, Cooper received the Frederick Douglass award from the University of Rochester in recognition of his lifetime involvement in civil rights.In 2005, SUNY Geneseo granted him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
In 2010, Rochester city school number 10 was named the Dr. Walter Cooper Academy in his honor. The school emphasizes research and interactive learning, the methodology Cooper promoted during his time as a Regent of the State of New York and as the education committee chair of the Urban League of Rochester.