Ralph Walter Graystone Wyckoff
Encyclopedia
Ralph Walter Graystone Wyckoff, Sr. (born August 9, 1897 in Geneva, New York
; died November 3, 1994 in Tucson, Arizona
) was an American scientist and pioneer of X-ray crystallography
. He was elected Foreign member of the Royal Society
, on April 19, 1951.
, where he made bachelor of science
in 1916, continued at Cornell University
, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1919. In 1916, he published his first scientific paper (of more than 400) at the age of nineteen in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Under Shoji Nishikawa, he presented his thesis about the crystallographic resolution of the structures of NaNO3 and CsICl2 in 1919.
He continued working in X-ray crystallography and wrote several books about the topic. Wyckoff’s 1922 book, The Analytical Expression of the Results of the Theory of Space Groups, contained tables with the positional coordinates, both general and special, permitted by the symmetry elements. This book was the forerunner of International Tables for X-ray Crystallography, which first appeared in 1935. Both general and special positions are also called Wyckoff positions in his honor.
He moved to the Rockefeller University
in 1927, to take up studies of bacteria
and, especially, virus
es. While there, he photographed the growth of living cells using ultraviolet light and determined the structure of urea. He left Rockefeller University in 1937. After leaving there, he worked in private industry on the Western equine encephalitis virus
. This work resulted to the creation of an vaccine against it. During World War II, he developed a vaccine against epidemic typhus. In 1943, he moved to Michigan where he worked for the University of Michigan
and the Michigan State Department of Health In Ann Arbor, he invented a technique to take three-dimensional electron microscope
images of bacteria using a "metal shadowing" technique. Robley C. Williams
worked with him to develop the technique. From 1946 to 1952, he researched macromolecule
s and viruses at the National Institutes of Health
in Bethesda, Maryland
. In 1948, he helped found the International Union of Crystallography
and served as Vice-president and President from 1951 to 1957. In 1959, appalled by growing bureaucracy at the NIH, he took the job of professor of microbiology and physics at the University of Arizona
in Tucson, where he was forced to retire at the age of 80.
Wyckoff was married two times, the first time producing one son Ralph W.G. Wyckoff, Jr., the second marriage resulted in three daughters.
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
; died November 3, 1994 in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
) was an American scientist and pioneer of X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography is a method of determining the arrangement of atoms within a crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a crystal and causes the beam of light to spread into many specific directions. From the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a...
. He was elected Foreign member of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, on April 19, 1951.
Biography
He was the son of judge Abram Ralph Wyckoff and Ethel Agnes Catchpole. He studied at Hobart CollegeHobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
, where he made bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1916, continued at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1919. In 1916, he published his first scientific paper (of more than 400) at the age of nineteen in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Under Shoji Nishikawa, he presented his thesis about the crystallographic resolution of the structures of NaNO3 and CsICl2 in 1919.
He continued working in X-ray crystallography and wrote several books about the topic. Wyckoff’s 1922 book, The Analytical Expression of the Results of the Theory of Space Groups, contained tables with the positional coordinates, both general and special, permitted by the symmetry elements. This book was the forerunner of International Tables for X-ray Crystallography, which first appeared in 1935. Both general and special positions are also called Wyckoff positions in his honor.
He moved to the Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
in 1927, to take up studies of bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
and, especially, virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
es. While there, he photographed the growth of living cells using ultraviolet light and determined the structure of urea. He left Rockefeller University in 1937. After leaving there, he worked in private industry on the Western equine encephalitis virus
Western equine encephalitis virus
The Western equine encephalomyelitis virus is the causative agent of relatively uncommon viral disease Western equine encephalomyelitis . An Alphavirus of the family Togaviridae, the WEE virus is an arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes of the genera Culex and Culiseta...
. This work resulted to the creation of an vaccine against it. During World War II, he developed a vaccine against epidemic typhus. In 1943, he moved to Michigan where he worked for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and the Michigan State Department of Health In Ann Arbor, he invented a technique to take three-dimensional electron microscope
Electron microscope
An electron microscope is a type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to illuminate the specimen and produce a magnified image. Electron microscopes have a greater resolving power than a light-powered optical microscope, because electrons have wavelengths about 100,000 times shorter than...
images of bacteria using a "metal shadowing" technique. Robley C. Williams
Robley C. Williams
Robley Cook Williams was an early biophysicist and virologist. He served as the first President of the Biophysical Society.-Career:...
worked with him to develop the technique. From 1946 to 1952, he researched macromolecule
Macromolecule
A macromolecule is a very large molecule commonly created by some form of polymerization. In biochemistry, the term is applied to the four conventional biopolymers , as well as non-polymeric molecules with large molecular mass such as macrocycles...
s and viruses at the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. In 1948, he helped found the International Union of Crystallography
International Union of Crystallography
The International Union of Crystallography is a member of the International Council for Science and exists to serve the world community of crystallographers....
and served as Vice-president and President from 1951 to 1957. In 1959, appalled by growing bureaucracy at the NIH, he took the job of professor of microbiology and physics at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson, where he was forced to retire at the age of 80.
Wyckoff was married two times, the first time producing one son Ralph W.G. Wyckoff, Jr., the second marriage resulted in three daughters.
Publications
- The Analytical Expression of the Results of the Theory of Space Groups, 1922
- The Structure of Crystals, 1924