Regional Oral History Office University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California MARIAN E. KOSHLAND (1 92 1-1 997): RETROSPECTIVES ON A LIFE IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE, FAMlLY, AND COMMUNITY ACTMTIES James P. Allison Anne H. Good Catherine P. Koshland Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. Douglas E. Koshland James M. Koshland Hugh 0.McDevitt Gail Koshland Wachtel Introduction by Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. Interviews Conducted by Sally Smith Hughes in 1999 and 2000 Copyright O 2003 by The Regents of the University of California Since 1954 the Regional Oral History Office has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral history is a method of collecting historical information through tape-recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The tape recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is indexed, bound with photographs and illustrative materials, and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete amative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Daniel Koshland, December 14, 1998; Hugh McDevitt dated November 23, 1999; James M. Koshland dated January 19, 2000; Catherine P. Koshland, dated November 10, 1999; Anne H, Good, dated December 6, 1999; James Allison, dated November 16, 1999; Gail Koshland Wachtel, dated August 5, 2000; Douglas Koshland, dated July 5. 2000. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. No part of the manuscript may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the Director of The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to the Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000, and should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: To cite this volume: Marian E. Koshland (1921-1997): Retrospective on a Life in Academic Science, Family, and Community Activities, an oral history project of the Regional Oral History Office conducted in 1999-2000. The Bancroft Library, University of Califomia, Berkeley, 2003. To cite an individual interview: James P. Allison, "A Colleague's Perspective on Marian E. Koshland's Contributions to Immunology and Departmental Administration," an oral history conducted in 1999 by Sally Hughes in Marian E. Koshland (1 921-1 99 7) Retrospective on a Life in Academic Sciences, Family, and Community Activities, Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of Califomia, Berkeley, 2003. Copy no. Cataloguing information KOSHLAND, Marian Elliott (192 1-1997 ) Immunology Professor Marian E. Koshland (1921-1997): Retrospectives on a Life in Academic Science, Family, and Community, 2003, ivy 228 pp. Retrospective interviews about Marian Elliott Koshland (1 92 1-1997) with eight individuals, friends, family and colleagues. Koshland's support of immunology as a distinct field, role in the reorganization of biology at the University of California, Berkeley; membership and support of the Haverford College board of directors, National Immunology Society, National Science Foundation, Exploratorium board of directors, Jane Coffins Memorial Fund, Marian E. Koshland Integrated Science Center, Graduate Affairs Office in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Lawrence Hall of Science, National Academy of Sciences, National Institute of Health, Bay Area Immunology Club, American Association of Imrnunologists; work in the Brookhaven National Laboratory; women in science; husband Dr. Daniel Koshland, Jr., and children; balancing family life and research responsibilities. Interviews with James P. Allison, Anne H. Good, Catherine P. Koshland, Daniel E. Koshland, Douglas E. Koshland, James M. Koshland, Hugh 0. McDevitt, Gail Koshland Wachtel. Introduction by Daniel Koshland, Jr., Professor Emeritus of the Graduate School of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Interviewed in 1999 and 2000 by Sally Smith Hughes, Ph.D., the Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. TABLE OF CONTENTS-Marian E. Koshland INTRODUCTION by Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. 1 INTERVIEW HISTORY by Sally Hughes iii I. INTERVIEW WITH JAMES P. ALLISON Allison's Education and Early Career 1 Beginnings in Texas 1 Marian E. Koshland's and Allison's Recruitment at Berkeley 1 Marian E. Koshland's Scientific Contributions 2 A Molecular Approach to Immunology 2 Work on Antibody Specificity 3 Work on the J-chain and the Regulation of Gene Expression 3 Promoting Recombinant DNA Technology 4 Molecular Cellular Approaches to Immunology 4 Immunology as an Academic Discipline 5 Defining Immunology as a Discrete Field 5 A Larger Vision of Immunology 6 President, American Association of Immunologists, 1982-1983 6 A Woman in Science 7 Gender Equality in Immunology 7 Role Model 7 Rumors of Opposition 8 Scientific and Interactive Styles 9 Immunology and the Reorganization of Biology at Berkeley 10 Koshland's Vision of a Discrete Division of Immunology 10 Building Interactivity and Cooperativity 11 Affinity Groups 12 Head, Graduate Affairs Office, 1994-1997, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology 13 Graduate Admissions Committee, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, 1991 - 1994 14 Personality 11. INTERVIEW WITH ANNE H. GOOD Anne H. Good Education Lecturer in Immunology, University of California Marian E. Koshland's Early Research Antibody Specificity A Workshop Revealing the Kappa Sequence, 1963 Koshland's Initial Appointments at Berkeley More on Koshland's Research Cholera Vaccine and Secreted and Serum Antibody Structure Research on the J-chain Learning Recombinant DNA Technology Immunology at Berkeley Research on J-chain Transcription A Woman in Science Determination and High Standards Scientific Approach Chairman 1982-1989 Reorganization of Biology at Berkeley New Faculty The Koshland Relationship Head, Graduate Affairs Office, Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, 1994-1997 Work Schedule Health Problems Personality 111. INTERVIEW WITH CATHERINE P. KOSHLAND 37 Catherine P. Koshland: Education, Marriage and Career 37 Marian E. Koshland: Career Choices 38 Advice to a Daughter-in-Law 38 Different Research Styles 40 Avoiding "Hot" Scientific Problems 40 Bacteriologist, Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 1952-1965 41 The Decision to Come to Berkeley 42 Teacher 43 Associations with Haverford College 44 Member, Board of Trustees, 1982-1994 44 Chair, Educational Affairs Committee 46 Family and Social Life 47 Family Rules Perpetuated 47 Choices Regarding Social Life 48 Life with a Young Family 49 Interactions with Dan 50 Personal Attributes and Interests 5 1 Efficiency 5 1 Not an Avowed Feminist 5 1 Philanthropy 52 Strength and Vulnerability 52 Home Decoration, Design, and Gardening 52 The Role of Religion 54 Ignoring Feminist Issues 56 Grandparenting 57 IV. INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL E. KOSHLAND, JR. Upbringing and Education Family Education War Work Early Professional Career Gender Discrimination Immunologist, Brookhaven National Laboratory Associate Research Virologist, Virus Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1965-1969 Professor of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 1970-1997 Chairman, 1982-1989 Family Life Evening Routine Sharing Scientific Interests Membership in the National Academy of Sciences, 198 1-1997 A Major Contribution to Immunology Evidence for the Clonal Selection Theory Facing Opposition Demonstrating That Different Antibodies Have Different Amino Acid Sequences A Critical Experiment Two Sabbatical Leaves in Boston Learning DNA Technologies in David Baltimore's Lab Contrasting Scientific Styles A Woman in Science A 70' Birthday Gift More on Family Life Gardener Paid Help Social Networks in Science Team Sports in the Life of a Woman Scientist Science and Motherhood Personal Qualities Child Rearing Cooks in the Family Social Life Remembering an Early Incident V. INTERVIEW WHDOUGLAS E. KOSHLAND Douglas E. Koshland Education Douglas Chooses Science Despite Parental Advice Life in the Koshland Family Mother's Sense of Fairness Family Dinners Bellport, Long Island Childhood Activities The Job Offer from Berkeley Nannies Helping in Mother's Laboratory Community Activities Marian E. Koshland' s Science University of California, Berkeley A Molecular Approach to the Immune System Initial Positions Administrative Ability Attitudes Towards Women Humility and High Standards Enthusiasm for Life Service on Outside Boards Haverford College and the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial