As chair of the Department of Physics at Howard University, Herman Branson helped the scientific community gain new insight into organic molecules and biological systems. Co-inventor of the alpha helix and perhaps deserving a share of the Nobel prize, Herman Branson was born August 14, 1914 in Pocahontas, Virginia. After a primary and elementary education, Branson attended Virginia College (now Virginia State University). He received a BS in physics from Virginia State College in 1936 and his PhD from the University of Cincinnati in 1939. He began his career in physics at Dillard University, teaching mathematics and physics for two years.
From 1941-43, he was Assistant Professor of Physics and Chemistry at Howard University. In 1944, Dr. Branson became a tenured professor of Physics and was named Chairman of the Physics Department of Howard University. He would serve, nearly uninterrupted, in this capacity for twenty-seven years, from 1941 to 1968. He also, worked on the Office of Naval Research and Atomic Energy Commission Projects in Physics at Howard University. One of his students would include Marie Maynard Daly who was the first African American woman in the United States to earn her doctorate in chemistry.
As a scientist, Branson made significant contributions to how proteins work, and how they contribute to diseases such as sickle cell anemia. In 1948, Branson took a leave from Howard and went to the California Institute of Technology to work with Linus Pauling on the physical and chemical properties of proteins. Using x-ray measurements provided by Pauling, Branson calculated potential protein substructures. After some months of work, Branson handed in a report narrowing the possible structures to two helices: a tighter coil Pauling termed “alpha,” and a looser helix called “gamma.”
The tightly wound coil would come to be known as the alpha helix. Linus Pauling initially dismissed Branson’s work, saying that the shape of Branson’s coil was impossible. Branson then returned to Howard to work on other projects. Some months later he received a letter from Pauling along with a draft manuscript of a paper detailing the two helixes, with Branson listed as third author along with Pauling and Robert Corey. Pauling asked for suggestions. Branson replied in a letter that it was fine as written, approved submission to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences paper detailing the structure. That research would prove pivotal for understanding the biochemical roles of proteins and deciphering the structure of DNA.
In the initial press release from Caltech University, announcing the discovery of the Alpha Helix, Herman Branson’s name is excluded. Pauling ended up receiving the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, in part for the determination of the alpha-helix structure. When Linus Pauling received a Nobel Prize, Branson was not credited for his contribution. Later in his life, Branson alleged that Pauling had taken undue credit for some of the work Branson had done. Dr. Branson co-wrote a paper on the discovery the following year, yet it was commonly referred to the scientific achievements of Dr. Pauling. After working with Linus Pauling, Herman Branson returned to his position at Howard University as a full professor of Physics and Chairman of the Physics Department.
Branson went on to a significant career, eventually serving as president of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, from 1968–1970, and then president of Lincoln University until his retirement in 1985. Branson also left a legacy as an advocate for historically Black colleges and universities, where he worked his entire career. He was active in increasing federal funding for higher education, and helped found the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Branson led a group of educators to the White House to speak to President Richard Nixon about the growing disparity in financing for higher education. Shortly afterwards the Nixon Administration announced plans to raise Federal aid to Black colleges and universities by some $30 million.
His research interests were in mathematical biology and protein structure. He produced more than 100 research and other articles on physics, biophysics, the importance of Black American colleges, and science education. In addition to his co-discovery of the alpha helix, he also worked on an integral equation of biological systems, and electron impact studies on small organic molecules. Herman Branson was also associated with the introduction of information theory in the study of biological molecules, the introduction of information theory in the study of biological models, and the use of radioactive and stable isotopes in transport studies in biology. When he passed away on June 7, 1995 he left behind a legacy of science, activism, and tolerance.