Frederick D. Patterson was born in Washington, D.C., on October 10, 1901. He received his D.V.M. (1923) and M.S. (1927) from Iowa State College (University) and his Ph.D. (1932) from Cornell University. He received honorary degrees from Virginia State University, Wilberforce University, and Lincoln University.



Patterson served as Instructor of Veterinary Science at Virginia State College (1923-1926). At Tuskegee University, he was Director of Agriculture (1927-1928), Head of the Veterinary Division (1928-1933), and Director of the School of Agriculture (1933-1935). He also served as President (1935-1953) of Tuskegee University. Patterson was a trustee of the Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute of Liberia, Fisk University, Bethun-Cookman College, the Phelps Stokes Fund, Hampton Institute, and the Palmer Memorial Institute.



Patterson was the founder and president of the United Negro College Fund, Inc., he served as a member of various educational organizations, and was the co-author of "What the Negro Wants." Patterson was elected in 1947 to a two-year term on the Board of Governors of the American National Red Cross. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Citation (1980) from the Iowa State University Alumni Association and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1987) from President Ronald Reagan.



Fredrick D. Patterson married Catherine Elizabeth Moton on June 12, 1935. They had one child, Frederick Douglas Patterson, Jr. Patterson died on April 26, 1988.