Quick Facts
Biography
Agnes J. Quirk (1884-1974) was an American bacteriologist, plant pathologist, and inventor. She oversaw the culturing of bacteria in the Laboratory of Plant Pathology at the United States Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry. She received a patent for the production of penicillin mold and jelly in 1952.
Life and career
Hired by Erwin Frink Smith, pathologist-in-charge of the Laboratory of Plant Pathology, USDA's Bureau of Plant Industry, Quirk became Smith's assistant in 1901. Quirk's research focused on crown gall oxidation phenomena and culture mediums used in pathogenic analyses, working alongside Nellie A. Brown. Her original job titles at the laboratory consisted of "laboratory aide" and "scientific assistant". While a lab assistant, Quirk had three of her own assistants who helped her prepare growth media. She also invented a new apparatus to help measure amounts of media more accurately and without funnels.
After serving as assistant in the lab, Quirk became the head of the laboratory from 1928 to 1948. At the Symposium on Bacterial Dissociation and Life Cycles of the Society of American Bacteriologists, Quirk presented "A Five-fold Technic for Producing the Filterable Form of Bacillus phytophthorus," showcasing her skills in bacteriology. As a bacteriologist with experience, Quirk would share out different culturing techniques, like a formula for potato agar and a novel growth medium.
Selected publications
- Quirk, A.J. & Fawcett, E. H. (1923). Hydrogen-ion concentration vs. titratable acidity in culture mediums.
- Quirk, A.J. & Smith, E.F. (1926). A Begonia Immune to Crowngall: With Observations on other Immune or Semi-Immune Plants
- Quirk, A.J. (1931). Pure Smooth and Rough Colony Types at Will: Science Vol. 74 Friday, November 6, 1931, No. 1923
- Brown, NA, & Quirk, A.J. (1929). Influence of bacteriophage on Bacterium tumefaciens, and some ...
- Quirk, A.J. (1934). The Correlation of Animal and Plant Bacterial Behavior and Imposed Culture Aledium Environment. Journal of Bacteriology 1934 (J. Bacteriol. 1934, 27(1):22.)
