D. Bernard Amos Papers, 1955-1991
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Summary
- Creator:
- Amos, Dennis Bernard
- Abstract:
- Dennis Bernard Amos (1923-2003) was professor of immunology and experimental surgery at Duke University from 1962 to 1992. This collection contains photographs, writings, an address, an autobiographical sketch, lab notebooks and patient logs for skin graft work. Materials relating to skin graft research are restricted. Major subjects include the Department of Immunology and Duke University Medical Center. Materials range in date from 1955 to 1991.
- Extent:
- 6.5 Linear Feet (4 cartons, 1 manuscript box)
- Language:
- English
- Collection ID:
- MC.0019
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains photographs, writings, a presidential address, an autobiographical sketch, lab notebooks, and patient files for skin graft work. Materials relating to skin graft research are restricted. Major subjects include the Department of Immunology and Duke University Medical Center. Materials range in date from 1955 to 1991.
- Biographical / historical:
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Dennis Bernard Amos, a native Englishman, was born April 16, 1923 in Bromley, Kent, England and attended Bromley School, Sir John Cass Technical Institute, and later worked as a technician at Burroughs Wellcome. From 1940 to 1945, during World War II, Amos worked at the Ratcliff Infirmary in Oxford. During that time, he was assistant scoutmaster to children evacuated from London. In 1946 he returned to London and worked as a technician at Harley Street for D. Scott Jones.
After the war, Amos began his medical studies and attended Chelsea Polytechnic (M.B.) before entering Guy's Medical School in 1947 (M.B., B.S., 1951). In 1963, Guy's Hospital awarded Amos his medical degree. From 1952 to 1955, Amos was a postdoctoral fellow and pathology trainee at Guy's Hospital. In 1955, Amos moved to the United States and worked as a senior research scientist at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York (1955-1962).
In 1962, Amos joined Duke University as a professor of immunology and experimental surgery, and, the following year, he became the head of the Division of Immunology. Amos remained at Duke until his retirement (1962-1992). One of Amos' many contributions included demonstrating the use of lymphocytes for typing MHC antigens to match donors and recipients for organ transplantation. Following Amos' research, the first kidney transplant between a recipient and living related donor who was selected on the basis of MHC matching was performed at Duke University in 1965. In 1969, Amos organized, with Dr. David Hume, the first regional organ sharing program in the United States, later known as the South-Eastern Organ Procurement Foundation. He also organized the first International Histocompatability Workshop in Durham; subsequent workshops led to competitive studies that helped define the MHC (HLA) complex.
Amos was the first chair of the WHO HLA Nomenclature Committee, and a member of the Organizing Committee of the First International Congress of Immunology. In addition, he served as president of the American Association of Immunology (1980-1981).
On February 21, 2000, members of Duke's original transplant team and current members gathered to celebrate the future of the program, and a graduate scholarship was endowed, the Bernard Amos Training Fellowship for Immunology, to honor Duke's first immunologist.
Amos and his wife, Kay, had five children: Susan, Renee, Christopher, Martin, and Nigel. Amos passed away on May 15, 2003. - Acquisition information:
- Undocumented source, Accession A2007.021 (transferred, February 2007)
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Archives staff: April 2006; encoded by Emily Glenn: April 2006; updated by Cate Putirskis: March 2007
- Arrangement:
- Organized into the following series: Papers, 1963-1991; RESTRICTED: Skin Graft Case Files, 1955-1974.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Duke University Medical Center Library's online catalog.
Subjects
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- Personal Name(s):
- Amos, Dennis Bernard
- Corporate Name(s):
- Duke University. Medical Center.
Duke University. School of Medicine
Duke University. Department of Immunology.
Duke University -- Faculty. - Topical Term(s):
- Skin Transplantation
Education, Medical.
Contents
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- Restrictions:
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This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals or IRB approval may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Duke University assumes no responsibility.
Materials in boxes 2-5 must be screened for sensitive or confidential materials before being accessed. For further information consult with the Medical Center Archivist. - Terms of access:
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Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Dennis Bernard Amos Papers, Duke University Medical Center Archives.