1914-1975, inclusive

Personal name, Kaplan, Emanuel

Personal name, McCollum, Elmer Verner, 1879-1967

Emanuel Kaplan was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. He received a BA from the Johns Hopkins University in 1931 followed by a ScD in biochemistry from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1934. While studying for his doctor of science degree, Kaplan was an assistant in Biochemistry and worked with and studied under Elmer V. McCollum. Starting in 1935 he pioneered and directed the Baltimore City Health Department, Division of Chemistry's free program to measure blood lead levels for possible lead paint poisoning exposure. He was chief of the division from 1934 to 1956. As the assistant director of the Baltimore City's Bureau of Laboratories from 1956 to 1965, he became the chief of the division of biochemistry when the city's lab merged with the Maryland Department of Health, a position he held until his 1975 retirement. During Kaplan's career, he introduced tests for milk pasteurization, proper sanitation in food preparation and the blood test taken from an infant's foot to detect blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia. The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health recognized Kaplan as one of its 20th century Heroes of Public Health celebrated on the school's 75th anniversary in 1991.

Elmer Verner McCollum was born near Fort Scott, Kansas in 1879. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Kansas (1903 and 1904, respectively). He received a Ph.D. from Yale University in 1906. McCollum was appointed as instructor, agricultural chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in 1907. He rose through the academic ranks becoming a professor in 1913. The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health appointed McCollum as professor of biochemistry in 1917. He retired as professor emeritus in 1944. McCollum was a pioneer in the science of nutrition. He made his discovery of Vitamin A and Vitamin B1 during his tenure at the University of Wisconsin. While at Johns Hopkins University, he performed basic research in Vitamins D and E, tooth decay, and the study of trace minerals in plants. He published over 170 articles and books including "The Newer Knowledge of Nutrition" (1918) and "The History of Nutrition" (1957). McCollum served as president of the American Society of Biological Chemists (1927-1929), and was the member of numerous associations and societies including the Royal Society of London and the Royal Academy of Medicine, Belgium. He served on the International Committee on Vitamin Standards of League of Nations from 1931 to 1939, chaired the nutrition section of the Pan American Sanitary Conference (1939) and served as a member of the food and nutrition board of the National Research Council (1943). He was the recipient of many medals and awards, among them the Howard N. Potts gold medal from the Franklin Institute, 1921, the John Scott medal from the City of Philadelphia, 1924, and the Borden Award in Nutrition, 1945. McCollum was also awarded honorary degrees from the University of Cincinnati (Sc.D.), the University of Manitoba (LL.D.) and the Johns Hopkins University (LL.D.)

Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1931-1934

Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1917-1967

1999-070