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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 277, Issue 17, 6, April 26, 2002
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Classics
Obituary for Christian A. Herter, M.D.
((1910) J. Biol.
Chem. 8,
437–439)
Christian Archibald Herter, with John J. Abel, founded the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC) in 1905. This JBC Classic has two parts, the obituary for Herter, which was published in the JBC, and the announcement of the establishment of the Herter Memorial Fund. (Abel's roles in founding the Journal and the Society were presented as an earlier JBC Classic (1).)
Christian A. Herter was born in 1865. His father, Christian Herter, was an artist and a very successful interior decorator/architect. He was educated privately under his father's direction, and it was his father who chose a medical career for his son. He enrolled in The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University at the age of 15 and received his M.D. degree 3 years later. He then studied with pathologist William H. Welch at Johns Hopkins University and with August Forel in Zurich. As a result of this additional training, Herter became interested in scientific laboratory medicine. He started a medical practice in New York City and also established a private laboratory in his home to conduct medical research, particularly related to the diseases of his patients. His laboratory became a center for biochemical research related to disease, and it supported the research of many scientists including H. D. Dakin. (Dakin's work was presented in an earlier installment of JBC Classics (2).) Herter became Professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at his alma mater, a position he held until his death in 1910 at the age of 45. (Herter's father died at the age of 44 (3).) He died of a wasting neurological disease, possibly myasthenia gravis.
The founding of the JBC was initiated with an exchange of letters between Abel and Herter in 1903. The letter from Abel has not been found that prompted Herter to reply as follows, "I am a good deal interested in your letter suggesting the propriety of a new medium for the publication of biochemical writings in this country. A similar idea has often been in my mind although I never had any clear views to the best way of reaching the desired end. It is inevitable that much good material for a journal devoted to chemical problems in physiology and pathology should be forthcoming in this country and I cannot see where it is to be printed unless there is some new publication for this purpose...To restate my position then, I would say that I favor the establishment of a journal such as you have in mind and will gladly help along in any way I can."
By 1905, support had grown for a new journal, and the first issue of JBC was published in December 1905. Fittingly, Herter and Abel were the first Editors. Herter was true to his commitment to "help along in any way I can." He financed the start of the Journal and continued to subsidize its operation until his death 5 years later. To guarantee its permanence, he established the Journal as a non-profit corporation with Herter, Abel, Edward K. Dunham, Reid Hunt, and A. N. Richards each holding one share of stock. They agreed that no share could be sold or transferred without the consent of the other shareholders. JBC Inc. continued until its transfer to the American Society of Biological Chemists (ASBC) in 1942 (4).
Herter's personal fortune allowed him to establish and run his private
laboratory, including as many as six independent scientists, and to support
the Journal, as well as many other worthy causes. He had significant Herter
family wealth, and his wife, Susan Dows Herter, was the daughter of the
nation's largest grain merchant
(3). Herter's nephew and
namesake, Christian Archibald Herter, was Governor of Massachusetts and later
Secretary of State in the Eisenhower
administration.
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After Herter's death, friends and colleagues established the Christian A. Herter Memorial Fund, the announcement of which is reprinted here. The fund amounted to $40,000 and was intended to honor Herter by ensuring the Journal a solid and independent financial footing. John Edsall reported that in 1980 the fund totaled $184,000 (5). In 2001, the Herter Fund totals $960,000 and continues to provide the Journal with a significant and stabilizing income.
Christian A. Herter left many important legacies but none more significant than the JBC.
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