J. P. Kilbourn papers, 1953-2010

Joan Priscilla Payne Kilbourn, professionally known as "J. P." and more commonly by her nickname "Perky," was born June 15, 1936 in Junea, Alaska and died in May 10, 2011 in Portland, Oregon. She attended Willamette University from 1954 to 1957, then the University of Oregon Medical School (OHSU), and earned a B.S. in general science in 1958, as well as an M.S. in microbiology with a minor in biochemistry in 1960. While earning her masters degree, Dr. Kilbourn worked nights as a medical technologist at OHSU. She married her husband, Portland architect Lee Kilbourn, in 1961. In 1963, she earned a Ph.D. from Oregon State University in microbiology, with minors in biochemistry and mathematics. Through the sixties and seventies she taught for the biology department at the University of Oregon, worked for OHSU medical school's microbiology and pediatrics departments, the Veterans Affairs Hospital clinical microbiology department laboratory, as well as other corporate and independent consulting laboratories.

In 1984, Dr. Kilbourn started her own business, the Consulting Clinical and Microbiological Laboratory, which she oversaw until her health began to decline in 2002. She invested heavily in the education, mentorship, and advancement of others. Kilbourn was a long time volunteer GED prep tutor, regional science fair judge, and assisted in forming the Portland chapter of Iota Sigma Pi National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry. She acted as the chapter's president for several years, drafting and contributing to many organization publications. She taught continuing education classes for medical technologists at Portland State University, Clackamas Community College, and Physicians Medical Laboratory.

In her field she produced dedicated research, was a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and received a "Woman of Achievement" award from the state of Oregon in 1998. Dr. Kilbourn was an active member of St. Stephens Episcopal church in Portland, Oregon, and a mother to two daughters.