Brown, Rachel, 1898-1980

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Chemist. M.A., University of Chicago, 1921; Ph. D., 1933.

From the description of Notebooks, 1920-1926 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52247567

Rachel Fuller Brown was born on November 23, 1898 in Springfield, Massachusetts to George Hamilton Brown and Annie Fuller Brown. After her father left the family when Brown was twelve, her mother worked as a secretary and director of religious education at various churches. Brown entered Mount Holyoke College in 1916 and graduated with an B.A. degree in history and chemistry in 1920. In 1921 she received an M.S. degree in organic chemistry from the University of Chicago. For the next three years Brown taught at the Frances Shimer School in Chicago, Illinois before returning to the University of Chicago to study for her Ph.D. She completed her doctoral research in 1926 and received her Ph.D. in organic chemistry and bacteriology in 1933. In 1926 Brown began her career as a research chemist at the New York State Division of Laboratories and Research in Albany, New York. In 1948 she began collaborating with Dr. Elizabeth Lee Hazen, a microbiologist, to isolate the first antifungal antibiotic for human use. In 1950 they announced the discovery of Nystatin, an antibiotic named for the New York State Laboratory where they worked. The patent process was completed in 1957 and handled by the Research Corporation, a private foundation that worked closely with Brown and Hazen to distribute about $13,000,000 in royalties over the following decades to fund scientific research. Among its other projects, the Brown-Hazen Fund financed grants and fellowships at Mount Holyoke College. Brown retired from the Division of Laboratories and Research in 1968. She was the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Squibb Award in Chemotherapy, honorary degrees from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Mount Holyoke College, and the Chemical Pioneer Award. She also taught Sunday school for many years at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Albany. Brown died on January 14, 1980 at the age of eighty-one in Albany.

From the guide to the Brown papers MS 0777., ca.1916-1980., (Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections)

Rachel Fuller Brown (1898-1980) began graduate study in chemistry at the University in 1920 after graduating from Mount Holyoke College. She received her M.A. in Chemistry in 1921 and, in 1926, after completing her course work for a doctorate, went to work for the New York State Department of Health's Laboratories and Research Division. Brown spent the next forty-three years there working and researching in the area of antibiotics. In 1933 she received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University.

From the guide to the Brown, Rachel Fuller. Notebooks, 1920-1926, (Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Rachel Fuller Brown, a biochemist, and Elizabeth Lee Hazen, a microbiologist, were co-discoverers in 1950 of the drug nystatin, the first antibiotic administered to humans that safely and effectively treats serious fungal diseases. Both were employed by the Division of Laboratories and Research of the New York State Department of Health, Brown in Albany and Hazen in New York City. Brown and Hazen assigned patent royalties to the Research Corporation of New York, a non-profit foundation for the advancement of science. One-half the proceeds were designated for the general purposes of the Research Corporation, and one-half for the Brown-Hazen Fund. From 1957 to 1978 the Brown-Hazen Fund supported research and other programs in the biomedical sciences, especially in microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, and mycology; beginning in 1973, grants were restricted to work in mycology.

From the description of Brown and Hazen papers, 1937-1981 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122643706

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Brown, Rachel, 1898-1980. Brown papers, ca. 1916-1980. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
creatorOf Brown, Rachel, 1898-1980. Notebooks, 1920-1926 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Brown, Rachel Fuller, 1898-1980. Brown and Hazen papers, 1937-1981 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Brown, Rachel. Papers of Rachel Brown and Elizabeth Hazen, 1936-1983. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Brown, Rachel Fuller. Notebooks, 1920-1926 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
creatorOf Brown papers MS 0777., ca.1916-1980. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Association of University Women. Albany (N.Y.) Branch. corporateBody
associatedWith Brown, Rachel. person
associatedWith Dalldorf, Gilbert, 1900-1979. person
associatedWith Harriman, W. Averell, (William Averell), 1891- person
associatedWith Hazen, Elizabeth Lee, 1888- person
associatedWith Research Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Chicago. Department of Chemistry corporateBody
associatedWith University of Chicago. Dept. of Chemistry. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Massachusetts
United States
United States
Subject
Antibiotics
Antiobiotics
Biologists
Brown
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemists
College students
College students
Medicine
Microbiologists
Microbiologists
Mycology
Nystatin
Science
Scientists
Women chemists
Women chemists
Women college students
Women college students
Women in science
Women microbiologists
Women scientists
Occupation
Biochemists
Microbiologists
Scientists
Activity

Person

Birth 1898-11-23

Death 1980-01-14

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