The Charles Lathrop Parsons Award is usually a biennial award that recognizes outstanding public service by a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Recipients are chosen by the American Chemical Society Board of Directors, from a list of no more than five recipients presented by the ACS Committee on Grants and Awards.

[1] They have the discretion to offer the award in successive years if they so wish.

[2] It was established in 1952, and is named in honor of its first recipient, Charles Lathrop Parsons.

[3][4] The first woman to receive the award was Mary L. Good in 1991.