Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Lawrence Knox

ChemistColumbia University

African-AmericanManhattan Project VeteranScientist

Lawrence Knox was an American chemist.

Knox was born in 1906 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He received a B.S. from Bates College, an M.S. from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in organic chemistry. During this time, he also taught at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and at North Carolina College.

In 1944, Knox went to Columbia University to work for the Division of War Research. During his time there, Knox studied radiation. This work was used in the Manhattan Project’s research on the effects of atomic bombs. Knox’s older brother, William Jacob Knox, also worked on the Manhattan Project at Columbia.

After the war, Knox worked for Nopco Chemists and the Kickrill Chemical Research Foundation before settling at the Laboratorios Syntex S.A. in Mexico City.

Knox died in 1966.

Lawrence Knox’s Timeline
1906 Sep 30th Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

1940 Received a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

19441945 Worked on the Manhattan Project at Columbia University.

1966 Died in Mexico City.

Related Profiles

Edward Adler

Columbia University

Edward Adler (1916-1998) was an American electrochemical engineer. During the Manhattan Project, Adler worked in a laboratory at Columbia University under Professor Harold Urey and Dr.

Newton R. Smith Jr.

Tinian Island

Newton R. Smith Jr. served in the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron.

M. A. Fry

Y-12 Plant

M. A. Fry worked for the Tennessee Eastman Corporation at the Y-12 Plant.

Kattie Strickland

Oak Ridge, TN

Kattie Strickland was part of the janitorial staff at Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project. Unlike the white women whom she worked along side, Ms.