The Rockefeller Institute Quarterly 1961, Vol. 4, No. 4 the Rockefeller University
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Rockefeller University Digital Commons @ RU The Rockefeller Institute Quarterly The Rockefeller University Newsletters Winter 1961 The Rockefeller Institute Quarterly 1961, vol. 4, no. 4 The Rockefeller University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/ rockefeller_institute_quarterly Recommended Citation The Rockefeller University, "The Rockefeller Institute Quarterly 1961, vol. 4, no. 4" (1961). The Rockefeller Institute Quarterly. Book 16. http://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/rockefeller_institute_quarterly/16 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The Rockefeller University Newsletters at Digital Commons @ RU. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Rockefeller Institute Quarterly by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ RU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STITUTE WINTER 1961 THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE. A GRADUATE UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH CENTEB ' The park-like character of the institute's campus is shown on the cover of this issue. The view is toward the south from Caspary Auditorium across the 66th street driveway lined with sycamores nearly half a century old. In the distance is the facade of the South Laboratory, two blocks away, past the lawn and the gardens facing the Graduate Students Residence Hall. The photo- graph is by Vandivert,photomechanically processed to simulate a pen drawing. .- editors,ChristianA.HerterandJohnJ. THE RISE OF BIOLOGICALCHEMISTRY: . Abel, were Levene and Jacques Loeb. Abel and Herter considered it important for the THE INSTITUTE AND THE SOCIETY long-range stability of the Journal that it should be incorporated. Accordingly this PROFESSORFRITZ LIPMANN'Sterm staff in 1908, and Christian A. Herter, was arranged under the law? of the State as President of the American Society of first Treasurer of the Institute, was also a of New York, the original incorporators Biological Chemists during 1960-1961 is charter member. Other charter members being Abel, E. K. Dunham, soon to come a reminder of the parallel and often inter- of the Society in 1906 were to come to the to the Institute, Christian Herter, Reid dependent histories of the Society and The Institute: Jacques Loeb, then at the Uni- Hunt, and A. N. Richards, who, in igoi Rockefeller Institute during the past half- versity of California, and Francis H. Mc- had been one of the first Rockefeller Insti- century. The year of the founding of the Crudden, then at Harvard, both of whom tute scholars. Society, 1906, was also the year of the came in 1910. Two junior members of Dr. Richards, who last Spring received opening of the Institute's laboratories; the Institute staff appointed in 1907 and the Institute's degree of Doctor of Science, many distinguished scientists have been today Members Emeriti, D. D. Van Slyke honoris causa, had done research on prob- associated with both; and for a critical and Walter A. Jacobs, were elected to the lems of interest to Herter, and because of decade the Institute published what be- Society at its third annual meeting. their association Dr. Herter turned to came the Society's journal, the Journal of Dr. P. A. Levene, the Institute's first him for assistance with the new journal. Biological Chemistry. biological chemist, regarded the poten- Richards served as assistant editor from Soon after the founding of the Institute tialities of the Society as important to the the beginning, much involved in dealings in 1901, biological chemistry began to development of biological chemistry, as with the printer. play an important part in its program. In can be seen from an address he gave at the igo 5, Simon Flexner, recognizing the annual meeting of the Society in 1919. THE JBC COMES TO THE INSTITUTE growing importance of biochemistry, ap- He drew attention to the very great debt In igio Christian Herter's untimely .. pointed P.A. Levene, who at thirty-five modern science owes to the efforts of the death raised severe problems for the had become a pioneer in biochemical re- ancient societies and academies of science. Journal. A. N. Richards has written: "It search in its fundamental aspects in this By contrast, he said, most modern societies is safe to assert that during the years of - country. did far less to advance the cause of science. Dr. Herter's editorship, 1905-lo, the Referring to the aim of the Society of Bio- Journal was conducted at very consider- FOUNDING THE SOCIETY logical Chemists as being "to enhance the able loss. How great it was, I have no When the Society of Biological Chem- social usefulness of the biological chemist, means of knowing. I believe it to have --J ists was officially organized in the winter on the one hand and, on the other, to im- been borne exclusively by Dr. Herter." To . r"-q of 1906 in New York City, John J. Abel of prove his facilities for work, whether his enable the Journal to continue, friends of * -.; s The Johns Hopkins University stated at work be teaching or investigating," he Dr. Herter and relatives of Mrs. Herter as- -1 Tc the organizational meeting that there were asked : "Will this. ..society live to record sembled the Christian A. Herter Memorial -* ' I then "about loo active workers in this important service, or will it vegetate a pale, Fund to the amount of $4o,ooo. Contrib- . rT field, using the term in its widest sense." colourless existence? This will depend on utors included Dr. and Mrs. Edward K. - $ Though the entire scientific staff of The the spirit in which you join it." Dunham and Dr. and Mrs. L. Emmett -04 Rockefeller Institute at that time num- The Journal of Biological Chemistry Holt. Dr. Holt, a physician actively in- -- - bered less than a score, two were among was established shortly before the Society terested in biological chemistry, was a the charter members of the Society: P. A. itself was organized. Indeed, it was the member of the original board of the Insti- Levene and W. A. Beatty. Two other JournaPs editorial committee that formed tute as well as its first Secretary. charter members, Edward K. Dunham the nucleus of the Society. Among the Simon Flexner, Director of the Insti- and G. M. Meyer, joined the Institute twenty-four listed as "collaborators" of the (continued on page two) - . %--:. BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY philosophy from Princeton in 1938. He (continued from page one) joined the research staff at Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1939, becoming Vice Pres- tute, replaced Dr. Herter as President of ident in 1955. the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Inc., Dr. Baker is a member of the President's and H. D. Dakin of Herter's laboratory Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelli- took charge of the editorial office. Dr. gence Activities and a member of the Na- Richards became managing editor in 1910 tional Science Board, as well as advisory and carried the responsibilities of this groups of the National Academy of Sci- position until 1914, when he concluded ences-National Research Council, the that it interfered too much with his duties National Security Agency, and the Depart- as Professor of Pharmacology in the Uni- ment of Defense. He is also a past member versity of Pennsylvania. The editorial and of the President's Science Advisory Com- publication work was then taken over by mittee and the National Science Informa- The Rockefeller Institute. Dr. Van Slyke tion Council. became managing editor and the publica- Among his numerous professional activ- tion office of the Institute handled the ities, Dr. Baker is a member and past preparation of manuscripts for the printers. councilor of the American Chemical So- For eleven years, until 1925, the Institute ciety, member of the American Physical acted as publisher of the Journal with WILLIAM 0. BAKER, newly-elected Society, the Editorial Board of the Journal editorial responsibility under the Directors Trustee, is Vice President-Research at the of Polymer Science, the Advisory Board of of the Journal. The Journal was virtually Bell Telephone Laboratories. Dr. Baker is the Chemical and Engineering News and self-supporting during the time that it was a physical chemist whose research on the Advisory Editorial Board of Research published by the Institute due to efforts macromolecules has contributed to funda- Management. made by Richards and Dakin to increase mental science as well as to important He is a Trustee of the Mellon Institute the circulation. practical applications. and serves on Visiting Committees for Editorial and management activity in- After receiving a bachelor of science Chemistry of Harvard, Princeton and Rut- evitably involves peripheral overhead costs degree from Washington College in 193 5, gers Universities and the School of Engi- that may not be reflected in the formal Dr. Baker obtained the degree of doctor of neering of New York University. financial statements. As the volume of the Journal increased, the Institute found that more than a third of all of its publication effort was being devoted to the Journal of editor until he, Dakin, and Dr. H. T. Hastings (1945-46), who had been at the Biographical Chemistry. When Dr. Flex- Clarke were able to persuade the late Dr. Institute from 192i to 1926; and Vincent ner indicated to Dakin in 1924 that the R. J. Anderson to accept the position in du Vigneaud (195 I), Trustee of the In- Institute would welcome relief from this 1937. Anderson continued as managing stitute since 1949. In addition to these, burden, Dakin replied: "I am not going editor of the Journal for twenty-one years who held various other offices as well, to waste much time telling you: (a) that I until his retirement in 1958. Stanford Moore, Professor at the Institute, would rather have the J.B.C. continue at An even longer record of devotion was served as Treasurer of the Society from the R.I., (b) that we are mighty grateful that of Miss Mary Smalley who had been 1957 to 1959.