UW Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Discovery of Vitamins A and B

© Photographed August 1, 2015

Erected April 2001 by UW Foundation

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
43° 4.433′ N, 89° 24.675′ W
Google Map

University of Wisconsin Madison

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

DISCOVERY OF VITAMINS A AND B

In 1913 University of Wisconsin biochemist Elmer V. McCollum and associates used rats to conduct nutritional studies that led to the discovery of vitamin A in butterfat and cod liver oil. In 1917 his group discovered vitamin B complex in milk whey. Scientists first named these "fat-soluble factor A" and "water-soluble factor B." Incorporating C. Funk's term of "vital amine," McCollum later named them "vitamine" A and "vitamine" B. This opened the field of nutrition for the identification of all the vitamins, a search completed in the 1940s.

This marker is made possible by a grant from the UW Foundation

The marker is located in a courtyard on the west side of the Biochemistry Building on northbound Babcock Drive, just north of its intersection with University Avenue / Campus Drive / County Highway MS, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

NOTE: This is no parking near the marker. I parked at the parking lot at the intersection of Babcock Drive and Farm Place (behind the Babcock Hall Dairy Store), and then walked south back to the marker's location.

NOTE: Driving around and parking at the UW-Madison campus is pretty intense. Be sure to check the Google Map (above) and campus maps (below) before heading out.

UW-Madison Campus Map

UW-Madison Map and Parking

Historical Markers Highlight Accomplishments At UW-Madison AG College (Thursday, April 12th, 2001)

Click here for a list of all markers located on the UW-Madison campus.

The marker is located on the UW-Madison campus.