Biographies

As part of the documentation and mitigation program for Buildings 29 and 29A, 22 people who worked in the two buildings between 1960 and 2014, first for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and later for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), were selected to have biographies completed for this online exhibition. They represent a variety of positions within the two organizations including: lab technician, medical doctor, administrator, researcher, and director. Some of these individuals worked in laboratories their whole careers while others worked in offices, or with animals, or in a combination of several of these roles.

In these two buildings, NIH and then FDA staff helped to conquer some of the deadliest infectious diseases. In their regulatory role they had the national responsibility to license vaccines, antitoxins, blood products, and other biologics to ensure their safety and effectiveness. To support this mission, they did scientific research which resulted in the development of important standards and even new vaccines. This list of 22 individuals includes some of the most well-known scientists and their support staff at the NIH and FDA.

The cards below include the names, birth and death dates, laboratories, and locations worked for each of the 22 people. By clicking on the cards, you will be taken to the individual’s biography page where you will learn about their background, their laboratory or division, awards received, and areas of research.

If you are interested in scientists working in other Institutes or centers beyond biologics, be sure to check out the rest of the website as well at history.nih.gov.

Please note that the Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum does not own all of the resources gathered in this exhibit, and some items may be copyrighted.

  • a photo of a man with curly hair wearing a suit and tie

    1943 - still living | Building 29, Rooms 102 and 104 | Administration

  • Professional photo of Lewellys Barker in suit and tie

    1933 - still living | Building 29, 3rd floor | Virology & Rickettsiology and Blood & Blood Products

  • Photo of Arlene Butterly which has been scanned in from a printed copy of the NIH Record

    1906 - 1995 | Building 29, Room 115 | Administration

  • Professional photo of Madge Crouch in a suit with a pearl necklace

    1919–2004 | Building 29, Room 129 and 3rd floor | Blood & Blood Products

  • Professional photo of Bernice Eddy in a suit with a pearl necklace

    1903 - 1989 | Building 29, Room 207, and Building 29A, Room 3B20 | Virology & Rickettsiology

  • Headshot of Jay Epstein

    Dates Unknown | Building 29 | Virology

  • photo of Dr. Finlayson carrying a rack of test tubes in a laboratory

    1930 - 2020 | Building 29 first, second, and third floors | Blood & Blood Products 

  • Professional photograph  of James Gesling

    Birth date unknown-1978 | Building 29, Room 130 | Veterinary Medicine and Administration

  • Newspaper wedding announcement with photo of Dr. M. Carolyn Hardegree

    1933 - Status Unknown | Building 29, Rooms 418 and 414 and Building 29B | Bacterial Products

  • black and white photo of Hope Hopps in a plaid shirt

    1926 - 1988 | Building 29A, second floor, and Building 29, second floor | Viral Immunology

  • Black and white photo of Dr. Kirschstein wearing pearls and a blouse

    1926 - 2009 | Building 29, Rooms 209, 512, and 516 | Viral Immunology and Pathology
  • headshot of Dr. Darrell Liu

    1932 - still living | Building 29, Rooms 516, 425, and 129 | Bacterial Products, Allergenic Products and Parasitology

  • Professional photo of Harry M. Meyer Jr. in a suit with black glasses on

    1928 - 2001 | Building 29, third floor, and Building 29A, second floor | Viral Immunology

  • Professional Photo of Roderick Murray seated at a desk wearing a suit

    1910 - 1980 | Building 29 | Administration and Viral Products

  • Professional photo of  Paul Parkman wearing glasses and a plaid suit

    1932 - still living | Building 29 3rd floor and Room 129, Building 29A second floor | Virology and Viral Immunology

  • black and white scan of a photo which was printed in a directory of Dr. John Petricciani

    Birth Date Unknown - still living | Building 29, Room 513 | Experimental Biology and Pathology

  • Image of Dr. Pittman handling a mouse while a man in the background assists

    1901 - 1995 | Building 29, fourth floor | Bacterial Products

  • black and white scan of a photo of Gerald Quinnan which had been printed in the FDA directory

    1947 - still living | Building 29, Room 130 and Building 29A second floor | Administration and Virology

  • Professional photograph of John Robbins, cropped in from a larger image of he and Dr Schneerson standing together for their Lasker Award photos.

    1932 - 2019 | Building 29, Rooms 120 and 122 | Bacterial Products

  • Scan of a photo of George Rusten that was originally printed in the NIH Record. He's wearing glasses in the lab

    1913 - 1988 | Building 29, Rooms 209, 512, and 516 | Viral Immunology and Pathology

  • Professional photo of Sarah Stewart wearing glasses and a necklace

    1905 - 1976 | National Cancer Institute (not in 29 or 29A) | Virology & Rickettsiology

  • Professional photo of Kathryn Zoon wearing a black suit with green blouse

    1949 - still living |  Building 29, Room 130 and Building 29A, second floor | Virology