During the 102nd Queens College commencement in May 2026, Carly Reid the granddaughter of Queens College alumna Dr. Marie Maynard Daly received a degree of doctor of humane letters, honoris causa on behalf of her late grandmother. Dr. Daly was the first African-American woman in the U.S. to receive a PhD in Chemistry in 1947.
Reflecting on her grandmother’s posthumous recognition from QC, Reid believes Dr. Daly would take pride in seeing students strive for their dreams. “I often imagine how different it must have looked when she walked across that stage the first time, breaking barriers. I am sure she would have had an encouraging word and a warm smile for the chemistry graduates of color in particular,” Reid said.
In 1988, Dr. Daly founded the Ivan C. and Helen H. Daly Scholarship Endowment at QC in honor of her parents. The scholarship assists physical science majors with priority given to students passionate about African American studies, history or advancing minorities in STEM.
Born to Ivan C. Daly and Helen Page in Corona, Queens, science and education were always a huge part of her life. Her father was accepted to Cornell University where he intended to study chemistry. His dream was halted due to financial constraints and he worked as a postal clerk. Her mother spent hours reading with her daughter and supporting her love for scientific literature.
“As a mother myself, I can’t imagine the sacrifices she must have made to ensure Nanna was educated, properly fed, and beautifully clothed,” Reid said. “Women make unbelievable sacrifices with whatever route we choose, be it career or parenting, that are rarely spoken about.”
Dr. Daly started off at NYC public school, Hunter College High School. She later matriculated to Queens College, graduating magna cum laude in 1942 prior to earning her masters from NYU and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Columbia University in 1947.
“The absurdity of working in labs that didn’t even have a women’s restroom because the idea of a female chemist had not yet been considered is a prime example” Reid said. “She navigated the dismissiveness of mid-century academia with grace, charm, and a matter-of-fact hyperfocus on moving forward undaunted.”
Dr. Daly brought her expertise to places like Howard University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Reid recalls that “While I was too young at the time to fully grasp her impact, seeing a Black woman in a lab coat and glasses during the late 1970s and early 1980s was extraordinary.”
Outside the lab, “You almost wouldn’t know she was a scientist when she was at home. In fact, when I was six years old, I thought she was a flute player!” Reid said. Dr. Daly and her husband Dr. Vincent Clark kept their home alive with jazz and traditions like running along the Hamptons shoreline and decorating the tree on Christmas Eve before their annual trip to Sarasota, FL.
Today, Dr. Daly and her husband are buried a stone’s throw away from jazz legend Louis Armstrong. It’s a simple yet poetic connection between pioneers who shaped history and Queens in meaningful ways.
