Biologists & Naturalists Codexery

Marguerite Davis

Co-discoverer of vitamins A and B in 1913.

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Marguerite Davis

via Wikipedia: Davis, California · see source

In 1913, the American biochemist Marguerite Davis, together with Elmer Verner McCollum, identified vitamins A and B.[1] Davis was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on September 16, 1887; her father was a physician and botanist.[2]

Life and work

She began work as a research assistant with McCollum at the University of Wisconsin.[3] Davis cared for a large rat colony and helped expand it while working as McCollum's assistant.[4] Their discovery was first published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 1913.[5] A substance essential to life found in fats, which Davis and McCollum named "fat-soluble A," was identified by them in 1913.[6]

In 1940, Davis ended her career and went back to Racine to reside with her brother.[7] Following her retirement, Davis engaged in historical study and gardening, and she participated in local community activities.[7]

What the cited sources add

The same source states that their 1913 publication was the first use of an algebraic symbol in such a connection.[8] A biography reports that Davis's grandmother, Amy Davis Winship, was a social worker and early champion of women's rights.[9] The Racine Heritage Museum account states that Davis earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1910 at the University of California.[10] That account also says Davis organized a nutrition lab at Rutgers University after founding one at the University of Wisconsin.[10]

The Racine Heritage Museum notes that Davis returned to Racine in 1940 and shared the family home with her brother until his death in 1955.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Chemical & Engineering News: Top Pharmaceuticals: Vitamins", pubs.acs.org (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Racine History - Diplomat, Author, Vitamin Co-Discoverer Have Occupied 'The House on the Hill'", www.vindustries.com; McCollum, Elmer Verner, "From Kansas Farm Boy to Scientist", University of Kansas Press, 1964, p. 124 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Racine History - Diplomat, Author, Vitamin Co-Discoverer Have Occupied 'The House on the Hill'", www.vindustries.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: McCollum, "The paths to the discovery of vitamins A and D.", The Journal of Nutrition, 1967, p. 11–16; "The First Vitamins", Science AAAS, 1997-09-17; "The First Vitamins", Science AAAS, 1997-09-17 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Racine History - Diplomat, Author, Vitamin Co-Discoverer Have Occupied 'The House on the Hill'", www.vindustries.com; Newcomb, "J. J. Davis and His Daughter, Marguerite", University of Wisconsin Department of Botany Alumni Newsletter, Summer 2006, p. 8–10; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Harvey, "The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science: Pioneering Lives from Ancient Times to the Mid-Twentieth Century", Taylor & Francis, 2000-07-27, p. 674; Frankenburg, "Vitamin Discoveries and Disasters: History, Science, and Controversies", ABC-CLIO, 2009-01-01, p. 6 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Marguerite Davis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Racine Heritage Museum, "Racine Remembers: Reform Tradition", Local News I Racine County Eye - Racine, Wisconsin, 17 January 2017 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. "Racine History - Diplomat, Author, Vitamin Co-Discoverer Have Occupied 'The House on the Hill'", www.vindustries.com. facts only, no text reused. vindustries.com
  9. "Marguerite Davis Biography (1887-1967)", FAQs.org via Advameg. facts only, no text reused. faqs.org
  10. Racine Heritage Museum, "Racine Remembers: Reform Tradition", Local News I Racine County Eye - Racine, Wisconsin, 17 January 2017. facts only, no text reused. racinecountyeye.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Marguerite Davis (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Also in the Codexery

Marguerite Davis · Pioneers In Medicine And Physiology

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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