A letter of recommendation written by Ray Fields Dawson (1911-2012) on behalf of Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975). Dawson is recommending that Julian receive an honorary degree from DePauw University due to his work towards equal rights and opportunities for African American scientists, his contribution to the therapeutic drug industry, as well as his contribution to the agricultural industry.

Julian is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in the development of cortisone, sex hormones, soybean proteins, and firefighting foam. Over the course of his career, Julian received more than 130 chemical patents and in 1973, became the second African American, following David Blackwell (1919-2010), to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences.