Presented by Marion Irwin Osterhout and accessioned, 12/--/1962 (1962 2280ms). Additional papers donated by Marion Irwin Osterhout and accessioned, 11/20/1968 (1868 2717ms).
The Osterhout Collection records the scientific career of Winthrop John Van Leuven Osterhout from the 1890s to the 1950s. The correspondence, drafts of papers, lectures, and photographs document significant trends in American life sciences. Having begun at the botany department at Brown University, Osterhout continued working in botany at Berkeley (where he completed his doctorate in 1899) on problems of cell division in plants. While a professor of botany at Harvard (1909-1924) he began his innovative research program on the physico-chemical properties of membranes and cytoplasm of algae cells. He expanded this program (related to neurophysiology) after succeeding his late mentor Jacques Loeb in 1924 as head of the physiology department at the Rockefeller Institute. During these years Osterhout was also associated with the marine laboratories in Pacific Grove, Woods Hole, and Bermuda, and with the Agassiz Museum; he was also a founding editor of the
W. J. V. Osterhout met Arrhenius at Berkeley, where Arrhenius was a visiting professor shortly after being awarded the Nobel Prize. The friendship which developed between the two men is reflected in their correspondence.
From Mrs. Osterhout
Introduction to the...Osterhout Lecture
To Mrs. Osterhout
(also) Reply from V.S. Butt
To Mrs. Osterhout
To Mrs. Osterhout
To Mrs. Osterhout
To Mrs. Osterhout
Winthrop John Van Osterhout, full length, profile, informal, seated at the M.B.L., Woods Hole, Mass.
Ralph Lillie, Walter [Garvey], W. J. V. Osterhout, E. G. Couklin, Merkel Jacobs, A. P. [Mathlos], Robert F. Loeb, E. N. Harvey, and G. H. Clowes formal, standing and seated at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.
W. J. V. Osterhout and others, half length, profile, informal, standing.
W. J. V. Osterhout, Jacques, Loeb, Hugo de Vries, and others full length, informal, standing outside at the University of California.
[W. J. V. Osterhout] full length, informal, standing outside with gigantic algae.
Instription at bottom of photograph: "nereocystis gigantia - San Pedro, Calif. - Dec. 1895."
W. J. V. Osterhout and wife, half length, profile, informal, he is standing, she is seated in laboratory at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
W. J. V. Osterhout, [?] Traju, [?] Luche, [?] Shedlovsky, and [?] Parpart, 3/4 length, informal, standing at the Marine Biological Laboratory, at Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
W.J.V. Osterhout, bust, sitting, formal portrait.
Photographer: Louis Schmidt
Artist: Albert Edelfelt
Photographer: Louis Schmidt
W. J. V. Osterhout, half length, formal.
Seated: Frank Lillie, Thomas Huntbeargan, Jacques Loeb, E.G. Conklin, W. Setchell, E.B. Wilson, W.G.Osterhout
"W.G.V. Osterhout Laboratory in Botany Building, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts in his very early days. Note his interests in algae."
"Very early days at the Marine Biological Laboratoy in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Women botanists on the Stoney beach on Woods Hole."
"When he was 20 years old he went to the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts to take a botany course given by Dr. Setchell. Foreground--Dr. Setchell to the extreme right and W. Osterhout in the center."
"Early days in Woods Hole Osterhout as a student in Dr. Setchell's botany course. Picture taken at the back door of the botany building."
W.J.V. Osterhout, age 2.
Mother of W.J.V. Osterhout, formal portrait.
Father of W.J.V Osterhout, formal portrait.
Osterhout in Bermuda laboratory, 1922.
Osterhout and Lawrence Blinks in row boat.
Lawrence Blinks, Bermuda, 1927
California laboratory of W.J.V Osterhout.
Osterhout with Otto Loleoi [?], Woods Hole, 1951
S. E. Hill, formal portrait.
Osterhout in snowshoes.
Osterhout in laboratory, Rockefeller Institute, 1952.
Osterhout, formal portrait.
Osterhout, formal portrait.
Osterhout, formal portrait with bow tie and mustache.
Inscription on back identifies this image as Osterhout in California.
Pofessor Asa Gray, formal portrait.
Sir Joseph D. Hooker, formal portrait.
Liberty Bell postcard.
Roland Thaxter, holding dog, 1928.
Inscription under photograph: "Roland Thaxter (Kittery Point, Main, Aug. 28, 1928.) [?] sends his regards and very many thanks for your congratulations."
Formal portrait of Olof Arrhenius and S. Arrhenius.
Dr. and Mrs. Svante Arrhenius, formal portrait.
Jacques Loeb, Robert Less [?] and Leonard Rigns [?], Woods Hole.
Winter scene with people standing in snow with skies.
Hand written note on back of photograph: "Every Sunday Osterhout and Parker took many graduate students and professors out walking and sking, at Harvard."
R. Huber, formal portrait, holding eye glasses.
Hand written note on back of photograph: "Huber and his wife were good friends of Marion [?] and W. J. V. Osterhout. W. J. V. O. helped Huber leave Germany and settle permanently in U.S.A. Merkel Jacobs agreed to receive Huber. The last words Huber said to the Osterhouts as he was driving away from Woods Hole, 'You are both wonderful people. I love you both.' He died subsequently. Mrs. Huber was already dead. They maintained their dignity in spite of the humiliating circumstances suffered by them in Germany."
Hugo de Vries.
D. H. Lehmer [?].
Signature on back is hard to read, subject uncertain.
William A. Setchell, formal portrait.
Hand written note on back: "To W. J. V. Osterhout -- his dearest friend, with sincerest regards, William A. Setchell."
G. H. Parker, formal portrait.
G. H. Parker, in laboratory.
Osterhout and Parker: "They were great friends. They sat here every afternoon."
Laboratory equipment of W.J.V. Osterhout.
Exterior view of Bermuda laboratory.
Exterior view of laboratory and grounds in Bermuda.
G. H. Parker, seated, holding hat.
Louis Brandeis and Jacques Loeb.
Leo Loeb, seated at table, looking into microscope.
Leo Loeb was brother of Jacques Loeb.
E. A. Strasburger, formal portrait.
Hand written note on back of photograph: "George Howard Parker, Professor of zoology at Harvard. He was A.B., M. A., Ph.D. from Harvard and never had a job elsewhere. He was very popular and highly admired. Note how simple his laboratory was, yet he became famous."
These men were formerly in department by W.J.V. Osterhout. All three are members of the National Academy of Sciences.