CIBA-GEIGY Corporation

CIBA-GEIGY Corporation is a large, diversified chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturer with headquarters in Ardsley, New York. In 1980, CIBA-GEIGY initiated the Exceptional Black Scientist Poster Program to acquaint the general public with the achievements of some black scientists and to encourage minorities to pursue careers in science, medicine and mathematics.

CIBA-GEIGY Corporation selected black individuals each year who made significant contributions to their respective fields of science and commissioned Ernest Crichlow, noted black artist and illustrator, to paint their portraits. Posters were made from the portraits and distributed free of charge to individuals, academic institutions and organizations. The fifteen scientists honored were David Blackwell, Jewel Plummer Cobb, W. Montague Cobb, Charles Drew, Lloyd N. Ferguson, Shirley Ann Jackson, Percy L. Julian, Ernest Everett Just, Reatha Clark King, Samuel L. Kountz, LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., Walter E. Massey, Jennie R. Patrick, Augustus A. White II and Jane Wright, from the fields of medicine, chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering.

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