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INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This historical review of microbiology in the Northeast Branch has been compiled in honor of the ASM Centennial and is dedicated to all microbiologists in the Branch committed to the microbiological sciences. In it you will find a reprinting of the Volume I (up to 1970) and updates and additions in the Volume II (up to 1999). The names of some departments at colleges and universities have changed from Microbiology to Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics or any combination thereof. Regardless of the department title, microbiological sciences help us to better understand ourselves and our world and the study of the microbial community can lead us to beneficial applications for the environment, the industry, and for the health and well-being of all. Biotechnology companies are producing new and improved healthcare products and pharmaceutical companies are acquiring are making arrangements with biotechnology firms to facilitate the development of new medicines. Hospitals have merged to become healthcare systems and some hospital laboratories are performing of providing more and more molecular diagnostic tests. It has been a tough time in healthcare with the merges and managed care organizations, but a very exciting time in microbiology. One needs only to read the newspaper and the reports in ASM News to see the announcement of the defenses and of new applications. This past century began with the excitement around a new human tissue culture technique used to isolate the polio virus which opened the way for the isolation of many other viruses in a very short time. As we leave this half century and this millennium, we are excited about the diverse role of microorganisms in molecular biology and genetics and in the development of new technologies. Microorganisms are an essential an integral part of our lives and as Dr. Stuart Levy said in the Centennial Issue of ASM News, “We must learn to coexist, and ways to better our lifestyle. Rather than try to destroy them, we should aim to control and direct them to our benefit”. I am indebted to Paulette Howarth, Faith and Joseph Tracy, and Jennifer Thomas by the manuscript preparation, to Jeff Karr, ASM Archivist, for his efforts in researching essential material, and to all the contributors without whom there would be no historical review. It is good news to note that three of the previous contributors were able to contribute again to the 1999 volume; Harold Amos, Anne Coghlan, and Ruth Kundsin. The extent of the historical view was limited only by time. The contributors and I regret any omissions. Emy Thomas NEB-ASM Archives October, 1999 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - Emy Thomas TABLE OF CONTENTS Page VOLUME ONE (1970 History) Reprinted - Catharine Atwood, Archivist 6 Introduction, Catharine Atwood, Archivist 7 Committee and Contributors 8 Origin of the Society of the American Bacteriologists 9 The Boston Bacteriological Club 9 The Leo F. Rettger Society, Connecticut Valley Branch 11 Formation of the Northeast Branch of the Society of the American Bacteriologists 11 The Development of Early Bacteriology in Boston 11 City of Boston Health Department 13 State Laboratory Institute, MDPH, 1952-1970 - Geoffrey Edsall 15 Rhode Island Department of Health - Malcolm Hinchliffe 16 Connecticut State Department of Health Laboratory Division - E. W. Hibbard 17 Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases at Boston City Hospital - E. Kass, M. Finland 18 Children’s Hospital - J. Enders, G. Foley 20 New England Deaconess - David Skinner 21 Massachusetts General Hospital - Lawrence Kunz 22 The New Medical Frontier – Mycoplasma - Ruth Kundsin 23 Beth Israel Hospital - Lippman Geronimus 25 New England Medical Center Hospitals - Charles Bump 25 Harvard Medical School - Harold Amos 26 Harvard Medical School: Early Use of Tuberculin - M. Olmsted, B. Davis 27 Boston University School of Medicine - Mathew Derow 29 Tufts Medical School 30 Harvard School of Public Health 31 A Century of Life Sciences at MIT - Irwin Sizer 32 Bacteriology at MIT - Salvador Luria 34 Boston University 35 Simmons College - Anne Coghlan 35 Emmanuel College - Sr. Frances Donovan 35 Wellesley College - Delaphine Wyckoff 36 University of New Hampshire - L. W. Slanetz 36 University of Rhode Island - Phillip Carpenter 37 Brown University 38 U.S. Army Natick Laboratories - Hillel Levinson 38 Independent Research-Based Services in the Science 39 2 VOLUME TWO (1971-1999) – Emy Thomas, Archivist 41 Universities/Colleges Brown University - Judith Heelan 42 Essex Agricultural & Technical Institute - Gregory Reppucci 42 Harvard Medical School - Harold Amos 43 Mass College of Pharmacy - James Barbato 44 Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Arnold Demain 44 Northeastern University - Fred Rosenberg 45 Norwich University – Edward Carney 46 Rhode Island Programs, URI - Jaclynne Laxon 46 Salem State College - Susan Case 47 Simmons College - Anne Coghlan 47 Suffolk University - Henry Mulcahy 48 Tufts University Medical School - David Snydman 48 University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth - Dorothy Read 50 University of New Hampshire -Thomas Pistole 51 Wellesley College - Mary Mennes Allen 53 Hospitals Boston City Hospital - Alfred DeMaria 53 Brigham & Women’s Hospital - Thomas O’Brien 55 Channing Laboratory - Andrew Onderdonk 55 Lahey Clinic Foundation - Harriette Nadler 56 Massachusetts General Hospital - Kathryn Ruoff 57 Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island - Judith Heelan 58 MetroWest Medical Center - Emy Thomas 59 New England Deaconess Hospital - Paola DiGirolami 60 New England Medical Center - David Snydman 61 St. Margaret’s Hospital - Gail Thomas 63 Veterans Affairs Medical Center - William Thiemke 63 Public Health Departments Connecticut -Sanders Hawkins 64 Massachusetts -Irene George 65 Vermont - Burton Wilcke 75 Other Associates of Cape Cod, Inc. - Paul Ketchum 76 Biotechnology in Boston - Gary duMoulin 78 Cubist Pharmaceuticals - Grace Thorne 79 Microbiology Research Associates, Inc. - James Barbato 79 Morton International - Carol Mahoney 80 Mycobacteria History - Kurt Stottmeier 80 Mycobacteria, Waterborne - Gary duMoulin et al 82 Mycoplasma History - Ruth Kundsin 83 Profile of a Virus Hunter - Emy Thomas 84 Recollection of a Media Company - James Koczat 87 U.S. Army Lab, Natick Soldier Center – Florence Feeherry, Neil McCormick 88 3 Organizations NACMID - Mary Keville. Linda Ferraresso 89 NESIM – Woody Moy, Joe Mello 91 ASM Officers, Chairpersons, and Honorary Members, NEB-ASM 92 ASM Awards, NEB-ASM 93 ASM Foundation Lecturers, NEB-ASM 95 NEB Awards 101 NEB Honorary Members 101 ASM Awards - Demain, Allen, Hulme NEB Awards - Kunz, Bodman, Carney, McCormick, George, Johns, Thomas In Memoriam - Hanff, Kelner, Campbell, Marston, Seymour, Davis Honorary Members - Madoff, others NEB Memorium 104 NEB-Officers, 1949 – Present 106 NEB Programs & Activities, 1991 – 1999 109 NEB Membership List, 1999 116 4 Microbiology in the Northeast Branch American Society for Microbiology A Historical Review Volume I 1889 - 1970 In Celebration of the ASM Centennial October, 1999 5 The History of Microbiology in the Northeast Branch of The American Society for Microbiologists "Before him, Egyptian darkness with his advent a light that brightens more and more as the years give us ever fuller knowledge." William Osier 1899 -1970 th 70 Annual ASM Meeting Boston, Massachusetts • April 26 - May 1, 1970 6 The Archives Committee on the North-East Branch, American Society for Microbiologists herewith presents its historical review of the early bacteriology of this area as it developed into the expanse of today's microbiology. This brochure can but give a glimpse of the basic structure of the New England founding workers which has become a truly distinguished building of knowledge. It is hoped that readers will enjoy the orientation. Boston's history runs time wise almost simultaneously with Baltimore on the east coast, each locale possessing dedicated workers whose names are synonymous with successive increments of knowledge, gained by the knack of Serendipity. Shared experiences instigated further discoveries in the early laboratories, continuing so to date. It is with real appreciation that we acknowledge the courtesy and generosity of the Lederle Laboratories, Clinical Laboratory Aids Department, in the sponsorship of this brochure for the 70th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. Catharine Atwood Chairman, Archives Committee 7 The History of Microbiology in the North-East Branch of The American Society for Microbiologists 70th Annual Meeting Boston, Massachusetts April 26 - May 1, 1970 COMMITTEE AND CONTRIBUTORS TO THE HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY IN THE NORTH-EAST BRANCH, A.S.M. Cecil G. Dunn*, Coordinator Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harold Amos Harvard Medical School Charles M. Bump New England Medical Center Hospitals Philip L. Carpenter University of Rhode Island Anne E. Coghlan Simmons College Joan B. Daniels* Massachusetts State Laboratory Institute Bernard D. Davis Harvard Medical School Matthew A. Derow* Boston University Medical School Sister Frances Donovan Emmanuel College Goeffrey Edsall Massachusetts State Laboratory Institute John F. Enders Children's Hospital Medical Center Maxwell Finland Boston Department of Health & Hospitals George-E. Foley Children's Hospital Medical Center Kenneth F. Girard* Massachusetts' State Laboratory Institute Evelyn W. Hibbard Connecticut Department of Health Malcolm Hinchliffe Rhode Island Department of Health Edward H. Kass Boston Department of Health
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