"Jasper-Brown-Jeffries"(August 15,1912-July 16,1994)

Born in Winston-Salem,North Carolina.He was an African American physicist and mathematician who worked on the Manhattan Project in World War II.The eldest child of  Brown & Edna Jeffries,Jasper had three younger brothers,Carl,Hubert,and Robert.


Jasper earned his B.S. degree in 1933 from West Virginia State College (WVSC), a historically Black College & University (HBCU) located in institute,West Virginia.While attending West Virginia State College,Japer enrolled in classes taught by Dr.Angie Turner King,also a 1927 graduate of the institution.Dr.Angie earned a masters degree in mathematics and chemistry in 1955 from the Cornell University and later earned a doctoral degree in mathematics and chemistry in 1955 from the University of Pittsburgh.This very significant because Angie represented the small numbers of African American women earning graduate degrees in the STEM (Science,Technology,engineering,mathematics) fields during this time period.Its highly plausible that Angie encouraged Jasper to futher his education and pursue a graduate degree.After earning his B.S. degree from West Virginia State College,Jasper briefly attended the University of  Illinois (1933-35).He later earned his M.S. degree in physical sciences from the University of Chicago in 1940.


After completing his M.S. degree,Jasper worked as a physicist on the Manhattan Project (Metallurgical Laboratory) between 1943& 1946 at the University of Chicago.Other African American scientists hired at the Chicago laboratory include Harold Delaney,Moddie Taylor,and Benjamin F.Scott.The Manhattan Project,one of the most important scientific projects of the 20th century,led to the development of the atomic bomb which ended World War II.


Jasper held several academic and industrial positions after his appointment on the Manhattan Project.From 1946-1949,he served as a Professor and Chair in the Department of Physics at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University in Greensboro,North Carolina,joining his colleague Harold Delaney who was faculty member in the Department of Chmistry at this time.For almost a decade,Jasper worked as a Senior Engineer for the Control Instrument Company (1951-59) located in New York.From 1963-1971,Jasper worked as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Westchester Community in Valhalla,New York in 1971,Jasper worked was promoted to Professor and became Chair of the Department.


In 1937,Japer married Marguerite Diffay,a native of Birmingham,Alabama.Marguerite earned a degree from Fisk University and a master of social work (M.S.W.)  from the University of Chicago.The Jeffries had three daughters,Edna,Hazel,Marguerite,and a son,Jasper Brown III.


Jasper died in White Plains,New York.