Hildegard Wilson Cannan

She swam the English Channel as a young woman and was a biochemist at NIH much of her life. She was instrumental in the development of the drug, cortisone and many of her research articles are available on line.

I have been unable to locate any additional information online about Aunt Hilly. She married late in life to "Uncle Keith." I discovered that this was Keith R. Cannan, with whom she co-authored several of her many published many scientific articles

Obituary from the Washington Post May 18, 1978 ~~~~~~~~

Hidegard Wilson Cannan, 73, a scientist at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 20 years who was active in civic and environmental organizations, died Monday at Washington Hospital Center of complications following surgery for a hernia

Dr. Cannan was a research endocrinologist at the National Cancer Institute from 1952 until she retires in 1971.

She had served as secretary of the Committee for 100 for the Federal City, editor and secretary of the Potomac Valley Conservation and Recreation Council, and board member of the Rachel Carson Trust for the Living Environment. She had belonged to the North Cleveland Park Citizens Association.

She was the widow of Dr. R. Keith Cannan, Chairman of the medical sciences division of the National Academy of Sciences from 1953 to 1967. He died in 1971.

A native of Bridgehampton, NY, Dr. Cannan earned a Bachelor's degree at Cornell University, a Master's degree at the University of Illinois, and a doctorate at New York University.

before moving to this area she had worked at the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research in New York, and was a biochemist in a number of New England laboratories.

SHe is survived by a stepdaughter, Dr. Cecily C. Selby, of New York City; a brother, Simon Wilson, of Chevy Chase; and three sisters, Herta Cavenaugh, of Baltimore, Mary H. Wilson, of Washington, and Mildred Noce of Sperryville, VA

- Washington Post