creator:

Levine, Max (1889-1967)

title:

Papers

dates:

1916-1995, n.d.

extent:

0.42 linear feet (1 document box)

collection number:

RS 13/15/52

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Max Levine Papers, RS 13/15/52, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Max Levine (1889-1967) received a B.S. (1912) in Biology and Public Health from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Ph.D. (1922) in Bacteriology and Preventative Medicine from Iowa State College (University).

He began his career in bacteriology as a Graduate Assistant (1912-1913) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  In 1913, Dr. Levine came to Iowa State as an Instructor (1913-1914) in Bacteriology.  He was promoted to Assistant Professor (1914-1919) in Bacteriology, Associate Professor (1919-1924) in Bacteriology, Professor (1924-1947) of Bacteriology, and Professor in Charge of the Department of Bacteriology (1936-1945).  While at Iowa State, Dr. Levine was also the Research Professor (1915-1947) at the Iowa Engineering Experiment Station.  He left Iowa State in 1947, and became the Director of Laboratories for the Hawaii Department of Health (1947-1959) and Research Associate in Bacteriology at the University of Hawaii.

In addition, Dr. Levine served as a 1^st Lieutenant and later Captain in the Sanitary Corps of the United States Army during World War I (1918-1919).  He also served as a Lieutenant Colonel and later Colonel in the Sanitary Corps (Medical Service Corps) of the United States Army during World War II (1941-1946).

Dr. Levine belonged to numerous professional and honorary societies including the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Public Health Association, Sigma Xi, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Dr. Levine’s research interests included water purification, vulnerability of bacteria to antibiotics, and purification of industrial wastes.  He also discovered that the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine could be used to fight Hansen's Disease (Leprosy).  Dr. Levine published over 200 papers and a textbook, An Introduction To Laboratory Technique In Bacteriology (1924 and 1933).   Dr. Levine also named a genus of bacteria of gram negative rods in the family Enterobacteriaceae Levinea.

Collection description

Collection contains biographical information and publications, reports and talks regarding Dr. Levine’s research in bacteriology.  The papers also include documentation regarding the controversy surrounding the Head of the Department of Bacteriology appointment at Iowa State College during the 1940s.  The correspondence indicates that Dr. Levine was not offered this position due to his Jewish background.

Organization

Collection is arranged in alphabetical order.  

1

1

Biographical Information

1946-1995

1

2

Head of the Department of Bacteriology Controversy

1946-1995

1

3

Publications – Acid Production and other Characters of Bacillus-Coli-Like Bacteria from Feces and Silage

1916

1

4

Publications – Bacteria from Chlorinated Water

1939

1

5

Publications – Biological Estimation of Glucose

1930

1

6

Publications – Biological Purification of Creamery Wastes

1929

1

7

Publications – Characteristics of Coli-like microorganisms from the soil

1917

1

8

Publications – Concentration of Glucose and Lactose and Viability of Coli-like Bacteria

n.d.

1

9

Publications – Correlation of Voges-Proskauer and Methyl-Red Reactions in the Colon-Aerogenes Group of Bacteria

1916

1

10

Publications – Does Bile Inhibit or Stimulate Growth of the Colon Group?

1922

1

11

Publications – Double-Tube Method or Isolation of Motile Bacteria

1947

1

12

Publications – Effects of Addition of Salts on the Germicidal Efficiency of Sodium Hydroxide

1928

1

13

Publications – Effect of Concentration and Temperature on Germicidal Efficiency of Sodium Hydroxide

1927

1

14

Publications – Effect of Salts on Alkali Disinfection

1934

1

15

Publications – Experiments on the Purification of Beet Sugar Wastes by Steam-Flow Aeration

1928

1

16

Publications – Good Poisoning

1920

1

17

Publications – Gelatin Liquefaction by Bacteria

1923

1

18

Publications – Germicidal Efficiency of Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydroxide-Carbonate Mixtures at the Same H-ion Concentration

1928

1

19

Publications – Germicidal Properties of Chlorine Compounds

1937

1

20

Publications – Influence of Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate and Tri-Sodium phosphate on Germicidal Efficiency of Sodium Hydroxide

1927

1

21

Publications – The Inhibition Zone Technique for Determination of Bacterial Resistance to Penicillin

1945

1

22

Publications – A Milk-Borne Paratyphoid Outbreak in Ames, Iowa

1916

1

23

Publications – Notes on Bacterial Coli and Bacterial Aerogenes

1920

1

24

Publications – Notes on Experiences with the Presumptive and Confirmatory Tests for B. coli in Water Analysis for the American Expeditionary Forces

1920

1

25

Publications – On the Significance of the Voges-Proskauer Reaction

1

26

Publications – Preliminary Note on the Classification of some Lactose Fermenting Bacteria

1916

1

27

Publications – Sanitary Control of Swimming Pools

1916

1

28

Publications – The Serum Agglutination Reaction in Diagnosis of Bacillary Dysentery

1947

1

29

Publications – Simple Medium for Maintenance of Meningococci

1947

1

30

Publications – A Simplified Fuchsin Sulphite (Endo) Agar

1918

1

31

Publications – Some Differential Reactions of Coli-like Bacteria

n.d.

1

32

Publications – Some Effects of Penicillin on Intestinal Bacteria

1945

1

33

Publications – Some Factors Influencing the Germicidal Efficiency of Alkalis

1928

1

34

Publications – Some Observations on Typhoid Fever in Iowa

1918

1

35

Publications – A Stream-Flow Sewage-Treatment Process

1928

1

36

Publications – Utilization of Agricultural Wastes

1935

1

37

Publications – The Value of Boric Acid Canning Compound in Food Preservation

1923

1

38

Publications – The Voges-Proskauer and Correlated Reactions of Coli-Like Bacteria

1917

1

39

Reports – Report on Purification of the Best Sugar Wastes

1927

1

40

Talks – Differentiation of B. Coli and B. Aerogents on Solid Media

1917