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 Collection
Identifier: R-MC 063

James A. Johnston Papers

 
 Collection
Identifier: R-MC 063

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.

Dates
1934-1965
Extent
2.4 Cubic Feet (6 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
Undetermined

Summary:The "Rutgers University Files" pertain to Johnston's activities at Rutgers. These include materials on his classes, his students, and his administrative activities.

The "Institutions (Non-Rutgers) and Conferences" subseries contains material from colleges, universities, and foundations. In some cases, it appears that Johnston had sought employment at these institutions (such as Rollins College). Other files deal with institutes and programs in which Johnston was a participant.

Johnston's "Correspondence" files, in subseries C, contain letters pertaining to scientific subject matter, his students, and publications. There are five folders of general correspondence included in the subseries as well.

The "Research, Reports, and Grants" subseries is the largest in Series I and contains files detailing portions of Johnston's research on topics relating to biochemistry and papers he wrote on such subjects as streptomycin and myo-inosital. There is also material related to grants Johnston applied for. This subseries also contained a file labled "Traces-Chromatogram Radioactivity" but due to the possibility that it contained radioactive material, the folder was removed.

Dates
1947-1965
Dates
1964
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Dates
1964
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 3

Dates
1961
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 4

Dates
1961
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 5

Dates
undated
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 6

Dates
1963
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 8

Dates
1961
Dates
1963-1964
Dates
undated
Dates
1962-1963
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 13

Dates
1965
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 14

Dates
1963-1964
Dates
1958
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 17

Dates
1960
 
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 18

Dates
1963-1965
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 19

Dates
1958-1960
Dates
1958-1960
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 21

Dates
1965
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 22

Dates
1962-1965
Dates
undated
 File — Box: 1, Folder: 24

Dates
1959-1960
Dates
1957-1963
 File — Box: 2, Folder: 2

Dates
1962
 File — Box: 2, Folder: 3

Dates
1962
 File — Box: 2, Folder: 4

Dates
1963-1964
Dates
1964-1965
 File — Box: 2, Folder: 6

Dates
1964-1965
Dates
1965
Dates
1961-1962
Dates
1962
 File — Box: 2, Folder: 11

Dates
1958-1963