Carolyn Beatrice Parker came from a family of doctors and academics, and she worked during World War II as a physicist on the Dayton Project, a critical part of the Manhattan Project tasked with producing polonium. Polonium is a radioactive metal that was used in early nuclear weapons. After the war, she continued her research and resumed her studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But tragically, she died of leukemia at age 48 before she could defend her Ph.D. dissertation. Decades later, the school board of Alachua County, Florida, decided to rename an elementary school in her hometown of Gainesville in her honor on what would have been her 107th birthday.
Carolyn Parker was remembered for her pioneering work as a physicist on the Dayton Project. She was born in Gainesville in 1917 to a family of doctors and academics. Her father, Julius A. Parker, instilled the importance of education in her at a time when being an African American doctor was challenging. Carolyn went on to graduate from Fisk University and earn a master’s degree in physics from the University of Michigan. She later joined the Dayton Project, where she worked on producing polonium, a crucial element for early atomic bombs.
The Dayton Project was shrouded in secrecy, and Carolyn’s work there was classified. Even her family knew very little about what she was doing. Polonium was a challenging element to work with, and the process of extracting it was complex. Despite the health and safety precautions in place, Carolyn likely developed leukemia due to her exposure to polonium. She passed away in 1966 before she could complete her Ph.D. dissertation at MIT.
In 2020, the community of Alachua County decided to rename J. J. Finley Elementary School to Carolyn Beatrice Parker Elementary School in her honor. Her niece, Carolyn Edwards, who was named after her aunt, has been actively involved in sharing Carolyn’s story with the children at the school. The renaming of the school was a tribute to Carolyn’s legacy and the impact she had on future generations.
In a time of division and turmoil, the renaming of the school was a reminder of the power of local communities to honor the contributions of individuals like Carolyn Parker. Her story serves as an inspiration to young students, highlighting the importance of education and perseverance in the face of challenges. By remembering and celebrating figures like Carolyn Parker, we ensure that their legacy lives on for generations to come.