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sound files : digital, mp3 file |
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transcript : (84 leaves 1 page of photographs) ; 29 cm |
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text txt |
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spoken word spw |
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unmediated n |
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audio s |
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other sz |
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Chemical Heritage Foundation Oral history transcript ; 0903.
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| Note |
This oral history is one in a series initiated by the Science History Institute on behalf of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. The series documents the personal perspectives of individuals related to the advancement of mass spectrometric instrumentation, and records the human dimensions of the growth of mass spectrometry in academic, industrial, and governmental laboratories during the twentieth century. |
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This project is made possible through the generous support of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. |
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Interview conducted by Michael Grayson at J. Throck Watson's home, Laingsburg, Michigan, on 27-28 October 2013. (With Subsequent Corrections and Additions) |
| Summary |
J. Throck Watson was born in 1939 and grew up in small towns in Iowa. His father worked at the local school, and his mother stayed at home. Watson spent much of his childhood outdoors, playing with his brother and his cousins. In the summers, he helped his father and uncle harvest bluegrass. As a senior in high school, Watson took a chemistry class and found it so fascinating that he decided to major in chemistry at Iowa State University. He participated in a fraternity and worked with Harry J. Svec, who encouraged him to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for graduate school. As a Ph.D. student at MIT, Watson worked with Klaus Biemann on a mechanical project to use molecular effusion to remove partially the carrier gas in a combination gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer instrument. Upon graduation, Watson served three years in the US Air Force to fulfill his military commitment incurred due to his participation in ROTC during college, which was deferred during Watson's time in graduate school. He was stationed at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he worked at the School of Aerospace Medicine. After his tour of duty was complete, Watson accepted a postdoctoral position at the Institut de Chimie, Universiť de Strasbourg in France where he learned practical organic mass spectrometry. At the time, the French were favorable toward the Americans, so Watson had a positive experience abroad, which reminded him of his summer job in Bavaria, Germany, during college when he worked as a farm laborer. When the one-year postdoc ended, Watson accepted a professorship of pharmacology at Vanderbilt University where he taught pharmacology classes and worked on a book, Introduction to Mass Spectrometry. After gaining tenure at Vanderbilt, the director of the mass spectrometry facility at Michigan State University called Watson and told him he was stepping down and wanted Watson to take his place. Watson accepted the position on the condition that he would be part of the chemistry faculty, which was granted. At Michigan State, Watson had many graduate students. During a sabbatical, he worked with Christian Rolando in France. Of all of his contributions to science, he was most proud of his work with his graduate students at Michigan State. When a grant application was not renewed, he decided to retire and "go fishing." Watson ends the interview by discussing hydrogen ions, instrumentation, working with graduate students, grants, professional societies like the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, analytical chemistry, various colleagues, the origin of his middle name "Throck," and the importance of his research today. |
| Cite As |
J. Throck Watson interview conducted by Michael Grayson at J. Throck Watson's home, Laingsburg, Michigan, on 27-28 October 2013. (Philadelphia: Science History Institute, Oral History Transcript # 0903). |
| Note |
Sound files Science History Institute. |
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Transcript Science History Institute. |
| Access Restrictions |
No restrictions on access. Reproduction and use with permission. |
| Biography |
Born Casey, Iowa, on 2 May 1939. Died Santa Rosa, California, 3 September 2016. Education: BS, Chemistry, Iowa State University (1961); PhD, Analytical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1965). Employment: 1968-1969, Institut de Chimie, Université de Strasbourg; 1969-1980, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; 1980-2006, Michigan State University; 1980-1999, MSU/NIH Mass Spectrometry Facility. |
| Indexes |
Transcript has been indexed. |
| Subject(s) |
Watson, J. Throck, interviewee.
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Biemann, K. (Klaus)
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Michigan State University -- Faculty.
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Chemists -- United States -- Biography.
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Chemists -- United States -- Interviews.
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Mass spectrometry -- Research -- United States.
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Drugs -- Research -- United States.
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| Genre |
Oral histories. lcgft
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| Alternate Author |
Grayson, Michael, interviewer.
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Science History Institute.
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| Alternate Title |
J. Throck Watson oral history interview |
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Watson oral history interview |
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