Letter from Linus Pauling to William C. Boyd. January 29, 1941. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 2 pp.  View Transcript

January  1941   > S M T W T F S       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Activity Listings

• Budget estimates [Filed under LP Science: Rockefeller Foundation, 1936-1946: Box #14.038 Folder #38.8]
• Confidential report by LP to the Departments of Chemistry, Columbia University and the University of California RE: Discusses Homer Jacobson, a gifted and precocious student in Chemistry at Cal Tech who will receive his degree at 18 and will plan to pursue graduate studies. [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #192.8, file:(J: Correspondence, 1941)]
• Letter from Dr. R. Bowling Barnes to LP RE: Introduces to him Dr. Richard Roblin and four others who are planning a trip to Cal Tech. [Letter from LP to Barnes February 20, 1941] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #37.8, file:(B: Correspondence, 1941)]
• Letter from LP to AHP. [Filed under LP Safe: Box #1.015, Folder #15.1]

  Thursday, 6 PM

  Dearest little wife:

  I had forgotten how lonesome it is possible to feel in one minute- I think that the lonesomest time of the whole trip is the first minute of parting, when I realize that the whole next week is to be away from you- although perhaps the last day on the way home is worse. I hope that this trip will go by fast.

  I was sorry to see that Crelly was frightened by the train. I had forgotten that he had not seen many.

  As we left the station I looked up at our beautiful foothill slope and tried to find our house, where we all live so happily together, and I thought about you- what a beautiful and good girl you are, how much I love you, how happy I am to have you for my little wife, what fine children you have borne, how wisely you are rearing them- and I promised myself that I would tell you these things when I see you again. I like to think about falling in love with you, and about all the years of being in love with you that have gone by.

  This afternoon I have read- applications, Spurr's article, the Saturday Evening Post- sitting in my Pullman seat. Only now have I come back to the observation car to write to you, at the little writing table. I notice now (as on the last trip) that I have begun to feel carsick- I think that it may be due to my bending over the table while writing.

  The mountains and desert have been beautiful- the bog rocks on the way up to Cajon Pass, the snow-covered San Bernardinos, the Joshua trees near Victorville, the Calicos. Now it is dark.

  Give my love to the children, dear little wife.

  Much love from you

  Linus

• Letter from LP to AHP. [Filed under LP Safe: Box #1.015, Folder #15.2]

  Thursday 8 P.M. [January 30]

  Dearest Paddy:

  I have just finished my work - supper - dishes - and a great lot of oat meal cookies. If you were here I might let you have one. I’ve decided to send some to James. He likes them so well and it is a shame that he should have them only once a year. Little Crellie and I watched your train sail on out of sight then we drove home via New Oak [?] Avenue. I purchased a flat of verbena, too, and they are already in the ground. Linus is at a He Y [?] meeting. He said he didn’t want to go but that he had to go. I said “Nonsense.” Also that I wouldn’t come and get him since I’m tired. I think I won’t go. He wanted to stay overnight tomorrow night too, with the little [?] girl, I mean, but I said he couldn’t that I would get him at eleven o’clock. He is a scheme all right and clever, too.

  How are you? Dr Edsall called and invited me to their house tomorrow evening to meet some English people whom they met in Berkeley. I don’t want to go very much but will go first for a little while to the folk dancing and then for a short while to the Edsalls’. Isn’t it odd that he called? This afternoon I called on the Tylers with Crellie and Linda while we waited for Peter. She was happy to see us and they have a charming little house and garden. It is too bad she hasn’t some of Lena Weinbaums [sic] excess artistic talent. Say do you realize you didn’t give me your address in New York? How can I write to you? Such a fellow! How is the little Paddy? You are a big joke. A man called to ask if our property here for sale. I said “No.”

  I suppose you think you are pretty smart don’t you. Guggenheim Advisory Board. Fui! [sic] They ought to know who the Paddy Advisory Board is. I’m going to read the paper in bed and I won’t be bothered by any pestiferous Paddy either.

  Love to you, Member of the Selection Board of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation — to say nothing about the Advisory Board. Ava Helen Pauling

  [Filed as 1941x.01.30.AHP]

• Letter from LP to Dr. Anton Burg, Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California RE: writes that Mr. Robert Anton Spurr said he would very much like to have the job with Burg, he is interested in teaching quantitative analysis and continuing his structural research. Recommends Spurr very strongly. [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia: Box 1.018, Folder 18.2]
• Letter from LP to Dr. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., School of Chemistry, University of Minnesota RE: replies to letter about Brinkley. LP had forgotten about accident. He does not think there is much chance for an appointment, but he will do what he can. [Letter from Crawford to LP January 25, 1941] [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia: Box 1.017, Folder 17.3]
• Letter from LP to Jerome Alexander RE: Responds that he is very busy this winter and will not be able to prepare a paper unless there is delay in publication of the manuscript. Encloses a copy of the reprint requested. [Letter from Alexander to LP January 16, 1941] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #6.1, file:(Alexander, Jerome, 1940-1954)]
• Letter from LP to Mr. Jack M. Tien RE: informs that it is improbable that any new appointments will be made this year. [Letter from Tien to LP January 22, 1941] [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia: Box 1.017, Folder 17.3]
• Letter from LP to Mr. Stuart R. Brinkley, Jr., Sterling Chemistry Laboratory RE: Informs that it is improbable that any new appointments will be made but suggests that Brinkley send a letter describing his research interests. [Letters from Brinkley to LP January 13, 1941, February 17, 1941] [Letter from Crawford to LP January 25, 1940] [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia: Box 1.017, Folder 17.3]
• Letter from LP to Prof. Hugh S. Taylor, Dept of Chemistry, Princeton University, RE: Thanks Taylor for the letter regard J. W. Sease. Apologizes and explains why Cal Tech sends so few chemistry graduate students to other institutions. Recommends and describes the merits of two upcoming graduate students: Miyoshi Ikawa and John Mead Richardson. [Letter from Prof. Hugh S. Taylor to LP January 24, 1941] [Filed under LP Correspondence: #405.6]
• Letter from LP to Prof. P.A. Leighton, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, RE: Introduces to him Robert S. Rasmussen, a PhD candidate in chemistry at Cal Tech who is looking for an academic appointment. [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #230.7, file:(L: Correspondence, 1941)]
• Letter from LP to Prof. Thorfin Hogness, Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, RE: Writes that he will arrive in Chicago at 8:30 on Tuesday morning to stopover on his way to the Guggenheim meeting in New York. Tells Hogness not to meet him at the station; he will find his way to the university. Asks if Rasmussen could be given an appointment in Hogness' department next year. [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #162.5, file:(Hogness, Thorfin)]
• Letter from W. Mansfield Clark, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, to LP. RE: Informs him of the vote for vice-president. Will write to Jewett informing him of their choice of Bowman. [Filed under LP Science: National Academy of Sciences, 1939-1944: Box #14.018 Folder #18.2]
• Telegram from James H. Sturdivant to Thomas K. Sherwood, National Defense Research Committee. RE: Is forward his letter on to LP in New York. Will suggest he offer delivery in four weeks. [Letter from Sherwood to LP January 25, 1941, Telegram from LP to Sturdivant February 2, 1941] [Filed under LP Science: Scientific War Work - Materials re: the Pauling Oxygen Meter, 1940-1947: Box #13.001 Folder #1.2]
• Writes cheque to "Dr. H.G. Whipple," $50.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Financial, Box 4.016, Folder 16.1]
• Writes cheque to "S. California Edison Co.," $26.40. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Financial, Box 4.016, Folder 16.1]
• Writes cheque to "Santa Fe," $135.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Financial, Box 4.016, Folder 16.1]
• Writes cheque to "Santa Fe," $66.75. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Financial, Box 4.016, Folder 16.1]
• Writes cheque to "The Music Shop," $0.77. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Financial, Box 4.016, Folder 16.1]