Abraham White

Abraham White (March 8, 1908 – February 14, 1980) was a professor of biochemistry who made several important discoveries in his field during the middle of the 20th century and helped write a foundational textbook, Principles of Biochemistry, which was published in 1954. The book went through six editions before its authors retired.

Early life and education White was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Morris and Lena White. His siblings were Essie and Julius ("Jay"). When he was about one year old, his family moved to Lafayette, Colorado, and then later to Denver. White earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. degree in Physiological Chemistry at the University of Michigan in the laboratory of Howard B. Lewis. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine with Hubert Bradford Vickery at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

In 1954, White, along with Philip Handler and Emil L. Smith, published a landmark textbook, Principles of Biochemistry. Until that time, there was no standard textbook in the field. It was used extensively at the undergraduate and graduate level and went through six editions, the last being published in 1978. White retired from his appointment at Einstein in 1972 to become a consultant to Syntex Laboratories and the Stanford University School of Medicine. Wayne State University, George Washington University School of Medicine and the Gladstone Institutes.

Honors and awards Awards 1935 – Traveling Fellowship, American Physiological Society, for the XVth International Congress of Physiology (Leningrad and Moscow) 1938 – Eli Lilly Prize in Biochemistry 1960 – Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Denver 1967 – Sesquicentennial Alumni Award, University of Michigan 1969 – Borden Award, Association of American Medical Colleges

Honorary degrees 1959 – Doctor of Humane Letters, Yeshiva University 1975 – Doctor of Science, University of Denver

Elected memberships National Academy of Sciences (elected 1970) American Academy of Arts and Sciences (elected 1968) American Society of Biological Chemists Biochemical Society American Chemical Society American Society for Cell Biology American Institute of Nutrition Endocrine Society Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine American Association of Immunologists History of Science Society New York Academy of Sciences (Fellow) Harvey Society (Council 1956–1959; Vice-president 1965–1966; President 1966–1967) Laurentian Hormone Conferences (Cofounder and Member, Board of Directors and Program Committee)

Honorary memberships Harvey Society (1947 lecture) Alpha Omega Alpha