Washington University School of Medicine Oral Histories
Francis O. Schmitt Oral History
Interviewer
Paul G. Anderson, PhD
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Summary
Francis O. Schmitt was interviewed by Paul G. Anderson on June 7, 1982 for approximately 93 minutes.
Scope and Content
Schmitt discusses his early interest in science and his decision to study physiology with Joseph Erlanger. He talks of his teachers and colleagues at Washington University, including Evarts A. Graham, Helen Tredway Graham, Herbert Gasser, George Bishop, Philip A. Shaffer, Carl Cori, and Viktor Hamburger. Schmitt describes Erlanger and Gasser's research on action potentials that led to their receiving the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology. There is also discussion of some of Schmitt's research on kidney function with Harvey Lester White, his research on the excitability of heart muscle, and polarization optics.
Biographical Information: Interviewee
Francis Otto Schmitt was an American biologist and neuroscientist. Schmitt was born St. Louis, Missouri and received an AB in 1924 and a PhD in 1927 from Washington University. He joined the faculty in 1929 and taught zoology until 1941. He collaborated extensively with Arthur H. Compton to develop x-ray diffraction techniques for biological macro-structures like muscles and nerves. In 1941, Schmitt was recruited by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become head of the Department of Biology. Schmitt became an authority on electron microscopy and conducted innovative studies on kidney function, tissue metabolism, and the chemistry, physiology, biochemistry, and electrophysiology of the nerve. He became Institute Professor in 1955 and professor emeritus in 1973. Schmitt was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and a former president of the Electron Microscope Society of America. He was the brother of Otto Herbert Schmitt.
Biographical Information: Interviewer
Paul G. Anderson, PhD served as an archivist at the Washington University School of Medicine library from 1982-2008. He earned a PhD (American History) from Wayne State University in 1977.
Interview Date
1982-06-07
Collection Identifier
OH055
Length
Approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Restrictions
Users wishing to publish (in whole, or in part) content taken from the audio or transcript of this oral history interview must request, sign, and return a Statement of Use form to the Becker Archives. For detailed information regarding publication and use of this oral history, contact the Becker Archives (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).
Recommended Citation
Francis O. Schmitt Oral History, OH055, Bernard Becker Medical Library Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.
Disclaimer
The Becker Archives provides access to this oral history interview as a record of the past. This interview reflects the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of the interview participants, which may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. The Becker Archives does not endorse the views expressed in this interview, which may contain materials offensive to some users.
