Curiosity & Collaboration: The Work of Michael Potter (1924–2013)

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“He never refused a request for any materials his lab had generated, even if it was from someone doing the exact same type of studies that he was involved in. His attitude was that it was only advancing science that mattered and one could not be concerned with trying to limit access in any way to materials or reagents that would benefit experimental progress.”
—Stuart Rudikoff and J. Frederic Mushinski “Biographical Memoirs: Michael Potter,” National Academy of Sciences

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Wendy du Bois, head of the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Animal Model and Genotyping Core Facility, holds a plasma cell tumor sample frozen in the 1970s; such vials were routinely sent to other researchers. Now, commercial vendors provide Potter’s more popular plasma cell tumor lines. Potter’s group carefully recorded the history of the mice, starting on the page shown below, which provides information about cell lines.

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Courtesy of Wendy du Bois, NCI

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Courtesy of Wendy du Bois, NCI

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Potter loved talking about science as he fished or beach-combed on the Chesapeake Bay. The many young scientists, such as his graduate student, Richard Nordan (above), who worked with him over the years, remember their casual and wide-ranging discussions on these trips, as well as Potter’s scientific curiosity and openness to new ideas.

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Courtesy of Dr. Beverly Mock, NCI

Scientist, Artist, and Family Man

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Potter and his wife, Jeanne Ann, and their son and daughter, often hosted visiting scientists and graduate students in their home or on excursions to the beach. Jeanne Ann was an integral part of the community that they built around Michael’s research. Those who were young scientists with the Potters continue to form their own informal alumni group.

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James Island in the Chesapeake Bay, 1980s

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Courtesy of Dr. Beverly Mock, NCI

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Even as a boy, Michael Potter loved two things: fishing and investigating the natural history of the seashore. He often used what he found to create artwork. These small shore bird sculptures were made by Potter with some of the shells that he found during his beach excursions. More information can be found on the bird sculpture artifacts page. (TODO: Link)

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Courtesy of Melissa Adde

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In 1969, Potter was awarded the Public Health Service’s Meritorious Service Medal (above). He and his wife, Jeanne Ann (shown above and right), and their son and daughter spent holidays on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

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Courtesy of Melissa Adde

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Curiosity & Collaboration: The Work of Michael Potter (1924–2013)

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Scientist, Artist, and Family Man

Office of NIH History and Stetten Museum