Dr. Edwin R. Russell. Image from Atomic Heritage Foundation.
(1913-1996) Edwin was born in Columbia, SC, to Nathan and Mary Russell. Russell earned his B.S. degree and an M.S. degree in chemistry. Russell worked as an instructor in the Chemistry Department at Howard University from 1936 to 1942 before entering the University of Chicago to pursue a Ph.D. in surface chemistry. While there, Russell was involved with the Manhattan Project--the program that developed the atomic bomb during World War II.
After World War II, Russell served as Chair and Professor of the Division of Science at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. He then was employed as a Research Chemist at E.I. DuPont’s Savannah River Nuclear Laboratory in Aiken, South Carolin. While working at DuPont, Russell focused on several projects, including the treatment of radioactive waste.
Russell was married to the former Dorothy Nance, and they had two children, Vivian and Martin.
