Letter from Linus Pauling to Louis Finkelstein. January 10, 1947. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 1 p.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Letter from Charles Allen Thomas, to LP. RE: Thanks him for the gracious note to Emery. Hopes to see him soon. [Filed under LP Science: American Chemical Society: Correspondence, 1943-1948: Box #14.003 Folder #3.3]
• Letter from Frank B. Jewett, President, to Members of the Nominating Committee. RE: Informs them that Dr. Adams would like to meet on January 20th or 21st in Washington. Asks which of the two dates are most convenient. [Filed under LP Science: National Academy of Sciences, 1945-1951: Box #14.019 Folder #19.2]
• Letter from LP to Dean W. N. Lacey RE: Encloses M. E. Cannon's letter regarding Mrs. Vesugar's visit and asks Lacey to meet with her. [Letter from M. E. Cannon to LP January 7, 1947, from LP to M. E. Cannon January 10, 1947, telegram from M. E. Cannon to LP January 13, 1947] [Filed under LP Correspondence: #410.12]
• Letter from LP to Dr. Louis Finkelstein, Institute for Religious and Social Studies, Jewish Theological Seminary of America. [Letters from Finkelstein to LP December 24, 1946, January 15, 1947] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #120.2, file:(Finkelstein, Louis)]

  January 10, 1947

  Dr. Louis Finkelstein

  Institute for Religious and Social Studies

  Jewish Theological Seminary of America

  Broadway and 122nd Street

  New York, New York

  Dear Dr. Finkelstein:

  I have been thinking about the kind invitation to me, in your letter of December 24, to prepare a spiritual autobiography for the contemplated volume. I am sure, however, that it would not be proper for me to accept.

  For one thing, as you surmise, I am very busy— especially busy during the next few months, for I am completing the writing of a book, which is to be published this summer. Also my work for the Committee of Selection of the Guggenheim Foundation and the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists will require a good bit of my time during the next three months.

  Moreover, any paper which I might write would, I am afraid, be sadly out of place in your volume. I might describe myself as a boy, and then a youth, who accepted the conventional religious beliefs and practices, hoping that other people had a deeper understanding of their significance than he had; and then present the argument which led, with the development of my power of independent thought, to my present state of atheism. (I suppose that it is proper to use the word atheism here—that is, I suppose that it has not been adopted by any sect, and given some special connotation.) I could also mention the respect which I have for the teaching of the great religious leaders. I could not, however, write this in an emotional way—I have a deep emotional feeling for the wonders of nature, but this feeling does not prevent me from discussing natural phenomena and natural structure in a straightforward and logical manner.

  Sincerely yours,

  Linus Pauling

  LP:par

• Letter from LP to M. E. Cannon, TATA Inc., cc: W. N. Lacey, RE: States he is looking forward to meeting with Mrs. Piroja J. Vesugar and will discuss her visit with Prof. W. N. Lacey. [Letter from M. E. Cannon to LP January 7, 1947, from LP to M. E. Cannon January 10, 1947, telegram from M. E. Cannon to LP January 13, 1947] [Filed under LP Correspondence: #410.12]
• Letter from Raymond C. Dunning, Managing Editor, Schaum Publishing Co. to LP RE: Sends him a copy of their Outline of Theory and Problems in College Chemistry book, tells a bit about and how many colleges are using it, gives comments from Dr. J. D. McCullough and Dr. G. J. Shiple, and tells the price in class quantities. [Letter from LP to Dunning January 22, 1947] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Correspondence, 1947), #378.1]
• Letter from W. H. Freeman, W. H. Freeman and Company to LP RE: Says he will be at Cal Tech on January 20th, encloses a rough draft of a letter of the kind he wishes to use to promote the textbook to give LP an idea for what they want. Encloses also a cover design for the textbook series and asks for comments, answers LP's question about holding stock in joint tenancy. [Filed under LP Correspondence: 439.5]
• Memorandum from LP to Mr. E.C. Barrett, RE: LP requests that $162.51 be transferred to the Chemical Engineering 1946-47 budget. [Filed under LP Biographical, Academia; Box 1.021, Folder 21.3]
• Writes cheque to "Simpson's," $12.49. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Finance, Box 4.018, Folder 18.2]
• Writes cheque to “Simpsons” $12.49 [LP Biographical: Business and Financial 4.073, folder 73.5]