Papers of Dr. Nancy Atkinson (1910-99)
MSS 0065
Biographical Note
Nancy Atkinson obtained her Masters in Science at the University of
Melbourne in 1932, having transferred from her initial field of
chemistry to the relatively new field of scientific research,
bacteriology. She was appointed, Lecturer in
Bacteriology at the University of Adelaide in 1939 (Head of
Department 1942) and was Reader-in-Charge, Department of
Bacteriology from 1950- [58]. She was unsuccessful in her
application for the first Chair in Microbiology (1958) but she
continued Reader in the Department and in 1961 she was given a
personal Readership in Industrial Microbiology. She was also
appointed Bacteriologist at the Institute of Medical Veterinary
Science in 1942, a position she held jointly with her University
appointment until 1949.
During her long career she was involved in research on
salmonellas, initiating and directing the Salmonella Reference
Laboratory, and in the investigation of native plants and fungi
with antibacterial properties potentially valuable in the treatment
of typhoid and tuberculosis, contributing also to the
Australia-wide Phytochemical Survey. She lectured to students
in science, agricultural science, medicine and dentistry and was
involved in the establishment of courses in industrial (applied)
microbiology. Atkinson was instrumental in establishing the
Australian Society for Microbiology, which developed from her
original proposal in 1958 for an Australian Institute of
Microbiology. She was awarded the OBE in 1951 and received
her Doctor of Science degree in 1957 for her work on antibiotics
and salmonellas.
These papers were received in April 1999 from her son, Dr John
Cook, in a considerable state of disarray after having been stored
for some time in Dr Atkinson’s shed. Some 40 volumes of
laboratory day books recording the work on salmonella,
bacteriophage and sera investigations, and a number of Microbiology
examination papers, were disposed of after receipt.
Series Listing
- Correspondence (mainly letters received) personal and
official. 1937-38, 1943-61.
8 cm. Including letters on artificial insemination
controversy and letters of congratulation on her D.Sc.
- Cuttings of newspaper articles re Atkinson and/or her
research. 1945, 1950-51.
1 cm.
- University correspondence on Departmental matters (staff,
students, facilities and equipment). 1954-59. 3 cm.
- Application for the Chair of Microbiology at the University
of Adelaide. 1958-59. 4 cm. Drafts, related
correspondence and supporting documentation (including 1st and
4th-10th IMVS annual reports).
- Papers re the History of
Microbiology at the University of Adelaide. 1947-73.
4 cm. Compiled initially in 1947, and revised as part
of a broader study of microbiology teaching and research at
Australian universities by Prof. Vic Skerman (University of
Queensland) in 1973. Includes other related papers by
Atkinson, in Infection and immunity (1956) and a historical summary
of the development of the science of bacteriology (1957) and
related correspondence.
- Talks, addresses interviews, newspaper articles on
Microbiology. c1943-60.
Includes ABC science commentaries and talks and paper on
‘Chemotherapy and the antibiotics’ given at the Australasian
Medical Congress, Perth 1948, but mainly talks of general interest
given to community groups.
see also papers on history of Microbiology in Series 5.
- Lecture notes and practicals. 1955-69. 15
cm.
Bacteriology I and II and Bacterial Physiology lectures,
c1955-57.
Department of Microbiology (SAIT) practicals 1963, 1965 and
undated, and lecture schedule and practicals 1968.
Applied Microbiology lectures and seminars (schedules, notes,
students’ papers), 1969.
History of Thought course, 1957 - lecture notes by Atkinson on the
Birth and Rise of Microbiology and outlines of other lectures in
the course.
[file includes issue no.1 of Jena Review and Zeiss
Werkzeitschrift numbers 19-20]
- Industrial and Applied Microbiology (Food Technology).
1956-75. 15 cm.
8.1 Food (Chemical)
Technology - Faculty minutes and reports, draft syllabus and
articles relating to the creation of a Bachelor of Technology
course, 1956-58.
8.2 Industrial Microbiology - (rough) lecture notes and
background papers, 1957-58.
8.3 Vaccine correspondence and notes, 1958.
8.4 Industrial Bacteriology - notes, correspondence, daily
record of (commercial) product testing, 1962-64.
8.5 Industrial and Applied Microbiology - tutorials and exam
papers, and completed papers by students K.P. Pockock, Neville
Gower and M.J. Reynolds, 1963-65.
8.6 SAIT Advisory Committee, School of Chemical
Technology. Circular minutes etc. 1967-71. [Atkinson
was a member of the Committee from 1967 to 1973]
8.7 Drafts of paper on ‘Man, Microbes and Food’ for
Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology symposium on
the Microbiology of Food Preservation, Melbourne, March 1968. [note
on file cover ‘Rappaport medium’]
8.8 Environmental Interdisciplinary Committee. Minutes
1972 [re Bolivar Sewage Treatment Works Effluent]
8.9 Australian Institute of Food Science newsletters, 1973
and Memorandum and Articles of Association 1984.
8.10 Environmental Studies Food Microbiology (proposed
course) - correspondence and course outline, 1975
- Australian Society for Microbiology.
1958-66. 15 cm.
Original proposal by Atkinson for an Australian Institute of
Microbiology, related meetings and correspondence and drafts of the
constitution (1958); circular minutes, agendas, notices of
meetings, reports, financial statements and related correspondence,
1959-66.
- Medical Sciences Club of South Australia. 1942 and
undated. 1 cm.
Scientific communications and abstracts of papers given at
meetings. [4 items only]
- Penicillium, penicidin, streptomycin and other ‘new
drugs’. 1943-45. 4 cm.
Correspondence and papers, and laboratory day book re penicidin
production and penicillin standardization, 1943-44.
- Antibiotics in
fungi/plants. 1944-57. 20 cm.
Papers by Atkinson 1946 and 1949 and others (especially W.H.
Wilkins) 1944-48, correspondence, record of plants tested 1945-46
and 1948, notes and day books re toadstool and mushroom
testing 1948-49 and plant and oil testing 1954.
see also Series 15
- Salmonellas. 1951-60. 4 cm.
Papers by Atkinson, list of salmonella received for typing
1951-56, correspondence 1955, 1957-60.
- Essential oils. 1944-46,
1951-57. 12 cm.
Correspondence, notes, papers by Atkinson 1955 and others
(particularly A.R. Penfold and R. Grant), test results, lists of
plants, record of samples received for testing 1951-54, and
laboratory day book ‘Antibacterial effects of Australian plants’
c1944.
see also Series 12
- Phytochemical
survey. 1951-59. 10 cm.
Correspondence and notes, newsletters and publications of the
Survey and of the 4th and 5th Australian Phytochemical Conference,
1955 and 1958.
- Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine.
1945-48. 3 cm.
Correspondence, memoranda, notes, progress report on research,
minutes of meetings of the Faculty of Medicine Sub-Committee for
Research in Tuberculosis (1947).
- ANZAAS meetings 1952-64. 1 cm.
Correspondence re participation and abstracts of 1964
symposia. [very limited]
- Roseworthy Agricultural College - Wine (Marketing)
course. 1983-84. 2 cm.
Reports and submission regarding (re) accreditation.
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