Collection search - Cook, William Harrison - Interview

Record information – Brief

1

Cook, William Harrison - Interview

Item number (ISN):

438433

Series title:

[National Research Council Oral History Project]

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1975-01-17

Item number (ISN):

438433

Type of material:

Sound recordings

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

Link to this record

Add to My Research

Link to this record

This link identifies the web page describing this particular record. Unlike the temporary link in your browser, this link will allow you to access, and reference, this page in the future. To link to this descriptive record, copy and paste the URL where ever needed (wiki, blog, document).

Sign in

Sign in to start saving records using My Research

Sign in
Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA / CONSEIL NATIONAL DE RECHERCHES DU CANADA

Accession:

1975-0011

Media:

Sound

Part:

1 of 1

Production date:

1975-01-17

Release date:

1975-01-17

Production company:

National Research Council

Production credit:

interviewer, Don Phillipson

Description:

Show detail Hide detail

Interview of Dr. William Harrison Cook by Donald Phillipson. Subjects discussed include: Phillipson's initial views on project; the need to document scholarships in the 1920s and 1930s; associate vis-à-vis Advisory Committees - Dr. H.M. Tory 1927; Tory anecdote - Advisory Committee procedure; five aspects of expenditure pre 1928 (speaking about W. Eggleston and B. Doerm); Cook's comments about assisting researchers - grants by the Council directly leading to the grants selection committee; Cook's historical review of the following personalities: Dr. H.M. Tory, Dr. Robert E. Newton, Ross Aiken Gortner, Bill Brown, Leonard Huskins, Bill Hanna, Bill Martin (University of Minnesota and University of Alberta staff and students; Biochemistry at University of Alberta: medicine with J.B. Collip and Plant Biochemistry with Robert Newton; Collip at University of Alberta; the true story of insulin - about Langerhans; anaphylactic shock; Nobel prize to McLeod and Banting; Collip's personality and laboratory technique; Professor G. Murray Luck - Stanford University (Palo Alto) in Biochemistry; Professor Strathclyde documented history of insulin; Collip anecdote - deadline challenge (Professor Luck); role of Dr. Charles Best and Banting; Collip and the use of insulin as therapeutically useful extract (ACTH) and Winston Billingsley; grad schools of early 1920s; bureaucratic problems in Ottawa in 1930s; early National Research Council problems were very applied; Agriculture and science problems of 1920s and W.P. Thompson; wheat criteria: agronomic feasibility, rust resistance, quality (Marquis standard); problem of testing quality with tiny samples; Cook undergrad in 1922 (Newton's lab was suitable); in 1924 - needed more lab experience and matrical exams by late 1925; speaks of Kieldahl; University of Alberta laboratory staff in 1926 - Dr. Gordon Malloch and Dr. J. Ansel Anderson; wetness problems of grain grades and exports delayed by the need to dry wheat; baking tests at University of Alberta; to Stanford - J.W. McBain; speaks of Sedberg and C.L. Alsberg; student finances; grain drying sample tests for GRC (Grain Research); Newton asked Cook to design lab-sized dryer for Stanfield (Alberta Research Council); in 1929 Cook returned to University of Alberta for Alberta Research Council (ARC); in 1930 Newton was promised an early job on National Research Council staff; in 1928, Newton was director designate of Biochemistry and Agriculture on half-pay at University of Alberta; in 1929 returns from Stanford; wheat dryer; National Research Council appointment on July 1, 1930 and returned to Stanford in 1930 to get his Ph.D. in 1931; Trail smelter SO2 problem; arbitration of non-visible damage; speaks of Wilbur; smoke and plant research contract; speaks of J. Eccles Swain; Thomas at Salt Lake City and automatic instruments and Thompson; in 1931, survey of biochemistry lab with Newton; in 1928, Newton and Anderson were the only National Research Council biochemistry staff; in May 1932, Cook installed the plant for biochemistry labs; staff convened in September 1932, included: Newton, Dr. F.H. Peto, Malloch, Anderson, Dr. J. W. Hopkins, and Cook; Anderson testing phenols in plant for rust resistance; new flavinol at Leeds; switched at National Research Council for barley to breed quality for human consumption; testing malting quality from University of Manitoba samples; Malloch testing new-bred wheats in chemistry as a service job while continuing Edmonton assignment; Peto a cytogeneticist or plant breeder assigned to grass breeding and soil erosion to evolve larger seeds for better survival; Hopkins agricultural meteorology and long cycles and stimulated improved measurements; Cook worked with constant condition chambers and was to repeat experiments, to grow more seeds in winter and to assess air pollution; in 1932 trade agreement - sent bacon to the United Kingdom for small packers - need for small packers to reach quality stals - to maintain price; Cook was assigned to storage and transport of perishables - main task to install refrigeration plant; six professional staff and some technicians from Alberta, and unpaid assistants; McNaughton scheme for relief and training incluenced this policy at National Research Council - but was merely unpaid labour and ultimate diversion from scientific achievement; responsibility of junior staff; early atomic staff mostly under 35 years old (Cockcroft); Cook's policy as director for junior staff; National Research Council's bureaucratic rules in 1932 (speaks of Curtis and S.P. Eagleson); he married in 1932; his salary cut of 10%; Stanford dean offered him a teaching post in 1934; Anderson and Malloch's resentment towards Cook's pay raise; half of the early National Research Council staff still paid by the GRC; McNaughton appointed and larger budget, therefore more staff such as: C. Winkler, H.R. Sallans and N.H. Grace; McNaughton started tree breeding and was assigned to Peto who took cuttings from naturally resistant trees; teamwork - sodium chlorate weed killers; fallhammer experiment a failure; A.C. Halferdahl and F.E. Lattre; Grace's rooting problems - plant hormone stimulant; Science Association meeting - Boyce Thompson Institute; Dick Manske attempted to synthesize quinine; Dr. Cambron developed mass production of Manske's alkaloid 2-4-D; Grace, Peto, L.P.V. Johnson and John Farrar; in 1939 Cook hired Harold White and Steeves, an engineer was also added to Cook's unit; moisture meters for wheat; Board of Grain Commissioners under Trade and Commerce; Dr. G. Aleck Ledingham; trail smelter: Dr. M. Katz; Dr. George Duff (University of Toronto) and Ledingham was transferred as biologist to IJC/NRC task force; Dr. H.R. Sallans succeeded Ledingham; NRC library in 1932 vis-à-vis University of Alberta and Stanford - difficulties in using library in evenings and a broken door lock; conflict between librarians and scientists - weekly pick-up; renaming bio divis ion; applied biology to bio sciences; relations between Canada, NRC, farmers and universities; Canada's strengths: entomology and plant pathology; Universities are independent; provincial departments of Agriculture are concentrated on extension; farmers want top-level scientists' attention and NRC served farmers via institutions (Grain Research Lab); Agriculture Minister Jimmy J.G.Gardner; NRC responsible for Petawawa forestry research; Agricultural services in 1932; Canada gave no money for research; Dr. Ken Neatby; Agricultural Institute 1947 report. <2h 15mn>

Language:

English

Notes:

Show detail Hide detail

1. Subject description taken from partial transcript in binder, National Research Council Oral History Project Index A-G.~2. PAC tape 516 a.

Detailed holdings information:

Show detail Hide detail

Vault ISN:

567704

Format:

SOUND

Location number:

C00516

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

R/R

Duration:

240:30

Made from:

FROM LOANED MATERIAL

Status:

MASTER
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

Open

GENCAT identity number:

GAD 0FD645

Restrictions on consultation:

Open

Copyright status:

Under copyright

Reproduction access:

With written permission of copyright owner : No donor restrictions. Copyright belongs to the Crown. Credit Library and Archives Canada.

You can order materials in advance to be ready for you when you visit. You will need a user card to do this.

Cannot visit us on site? You can purchase a copy to be sent to you. Some restrictions may apply.