James A. Johnston Papers

The papers of James A. Johnston date from the years between 1934 and 1965. The bulk of the papers were generated as the result of Johnston's activities at Rutgers, which began in 1959. Although Johnston remained at Rutgers until his death in 1968, this collection ends in 1965, when Johnston was promoted to Assistant Provost.

The collection is divided into two series. Series I, found in boxes 1 to 5, are subject files and Series II in boxes 5 and 6 is his collection of scientific article reprints that were culled from the subject files.

Johnston's subject files document his teaching and research activities as Associate Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry. Johnston taught various courses including Experimental Biochemistry, Cell Structure, Lipid Chemistry, and Agricultural Biochemistry. His research activities resulted in published titles including: "The Effect of Exogenous Coenzyme-Q on Oxygen Consumption of Bacteria," (1960), "Oxalic Acid Biosynthesis in Neurospora," (1961, American Cancer Society Grant), "Synthesis of a New Intermediate in Cell-Free System," (1962, National Institute of Health Grant), "Effects of Streptomycin on the Biosynthesis of Egrosterol in Growing Cultures and Cell-Free Preparations of Yeast," (1962), and "A Method of Quantitative Estimation of Myoinositol by Gas Liquid Chromatography," (1962, 1963, 1964).

From an administrative standpoint, these papers document Johnston's involvement in a study to establish a two-year medical school at Rutgers (1960) and in the naming of Rutgers Agricultural College (which eventually became Cook College) in 1963 and 1964. Outside Rutgers, Johnston participated in the Summer Institute for Teachers of Introductory Biology at the College Level at Williams College during the summer of 1965 and was a participant in an Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute study for the multi-university development of science courses (1964-1965).

The approximately 235 article reprints span the years between 1934 and 1965 and, for the most part, reflect Johnston's research interests. Article topics include: streptomycin, enzymes, bacteria, melvalonic acid, mitochondria, chlorophyll, yeast, hydra, and myoinositol.