Letter from Linus Pauling to August Strand. February 28, 1949. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 2 pp.  View Transcript

<   February  1949   > 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

Activity Listings

• Bill from Athenaeum with note attached: Dear Sir: Your Athenaeum account is more than 30 days past due. Will you kindly give it your immediate attention? Thank you. The Athenaeum. $25.89 [LP Biographical: Business and Financial 4.059, folder 59.3]
• Letter from C. F. Hassweiler, Chemical Section, to LP. RE: Informs him of the time and place of the Nichols Medal Dinner. Requests to be informed of his hotel reservations. [Filed under LP Science: American Chemical Society: Correspondence, 1948-1949: Box #14.004 Folder #4.2]
• Letter from Charles Allen Thomas, Monsanto Chemical Company, to LP. RE: Answers some of his questions from LP's letter of February 8th. [Filed under LP Science: Ford Foundation, 1949-1972: Box #14.012 Folder #12.1]
• Letter from Henry T. Heald, President, Illinois Institute of Technology, to LP. RE: Informs him that they are planning a dedication for new buildings, and that there will be a symposium held in connection with it. [Filed under LP Science: American Chemical Society: Correspondence, 1948-1949: Box #14.004 Folder #4.2]
• Letter from J L Hoard to LP RE: Writes that a number of people are upset by the dismissal of Ralph Spitzer from Oregon State College because of his response to a letter in Chemical and Engineering News. Requests more information to report back to the local section who also would like to take some action. Talks about their work on the molecular addition compounds of boron trifluoride. [Letter from LP to J L Hoard March 8, 1949] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: Ralph Spitzer: Academic Freedom and Passport Difficulties, 1942-1994: Box #2.034, Folder 34.2]
• Letter from LP to Dean Hugh Scott Taylor, Princeton University RE: Writes in concern that the fellowship Dr. Spitzer was given might be withdrawn. Talks about reasons why he believes the fellowship should not be taken from him. [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: Ralph Spitzer: Academic Freedom and Passport Difficulties, 1942-1994: Box #2.034, Folder 34.2]
• Letter from LP to Dr. A. L. Strand, President, Oregon State College. [Letter from AL Strand to LP March 4, 1949] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: Ralph Spitzer: Academic Freedom and Passport Difficulties, 1942-1994: Box #2.034, Folder 34.2]

  _C_O_P_Y_

  CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

  Gates and Crellin Laboratories of Chemistry

  Pasadena, Calif.

  February 28, 1949

  Dr. A. L. Strand, President

  Oregon State College

  Corvallis, Oregon

  Dear President Strand:

  I am greatly disturbed by the accounts that have reached me of the failure to continue the appointment of Dr. Ralph Spitzer, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Oregon State College, apparently because his political beliefs are not the conventional ones. I am writing this letter of protest in four capacities: first, as a graduate of the Oregon State College, with an interest in the affairs of the College; second, as chairman of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology, in which Dr. Spitzer received his doctor's degree; third, as the president of the American Chemical Society, of which Dr. Spitzer is a member; and fourth, as a man involved in our educational system and deeply interested in it.

  From personal knowledge of Dr. Spitzer beginning when he was an undergraduate at Cornell University while I was there as George Fisher Baker Lecturer in Chemistry, I can say with assurance that he has not been dropped because of lack of knowledge of his subject nor lack of ability as a teacher. He is to be included in the upper group of the able younger physical chemists in the country. It seems reasonably clear, from the information that has reached me, including the article that appeared in our local paper, that Professor Spitzer would have been continued in his appointment except for the fact that his political beliefs are not the conventional ones, and in particular that he supported Henry Wallace in the last election. I believe that this action constitutes a violation of the principles of academic freedom, and that it would do great harm to the universities and colleges of the country and in particular to the Oregon State College if it were allowed to stand. I am accordingly writing to urge that you reconsider the matter and give continued appointment to Dr. Spitzer, and presumably also to Dr. L.R. LaVallee.

  I believe that it is my own right and duty as an American citizen to take an active interest in politics, and that Dr. Spitzer has a similar right and duty. I believe that it is a violation of the principles of academic freedom for a man to be dismissed for this reason. I do not agree completely with Dr. Spitzer on questions relating to politics, but I support him in his right to hold his beliefs.

  As an Oregonian and an alumnus of Oregon State College, I want to point out the great damage that can be done to the College if your action is allowed to stand. I have followed with interest the efforts of the College to improve itself during the past decades, and have attempted to help by giving advice and by making recommendations of good men for appointment. I am sure that a violation of the principles of academic freedom by the administration of the College will cause the College to lose some of the strong men on its staff and among its students, and will make it difficult for it to obtain outstanding men in the future.

  You may not have heard that, before Dr. Spitzer's dismissal from his post at Oregon State College, I had appointed him a member of an important national committee of the American Chemical Society, the Committee on Patent Legislation. This appointment shows the high regard that I have for his professional competence, in the broad sense.

  May I repeat my request to you to reconsider the action that you have taken, and, for the sake of the Oregon State College and the university system generally, to continue the appointment of Dr. Spitzer, and presumably also of Dr. LaVallee.

  Sincerely yours,

  cc: Dr. Spitzer

  Editor, Daily Barometer

• Letter from LP to Dr. J.D. McCullough RE: Thanks him for his manuscript on his paper with Marsh on the Crystal Structure of Di-p-tolylselenium Dicholoride and Di-p-tolylselenium Dibromide. Makes comments on the paper and gives comments on his writing style going through work usage, comma usage and sentence structure. [Note from McCullough to LP March 3, 1949] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #245.4, file:(McCullough, J.D.)]
• Letter from LP to Dr. JR Oppenheimer, Institute for advanced Study RE: Writes in concern that the fellowship Dr. Spitzer was given might be withdrawn. Talks about reasons why he believes the fellowship should not be taken from him. [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: Ralph Spitzer: Academic Freedom and Passport Difficulties, 1942-1994: Box #2.034, Folder 34.2]
• Letter from LP to J. R. Oppenheimer RE: stating that he received a letter from Dr. Ralph Spitzer, a former student of LP's, stating that his SSRC-NRC fellowship might be withdrawn. LP is writing in the support of keeping his application. [Letter from Taylor to LP March 3, 1949] [Letter from Oppenheimer to LP March 5, 1949] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #296.1, File: (Oppenheimer, J. Robert)]
• Letter from LP to Milton Burton RE: Responds that he largely agrees with Burton's sentiments, except in the matter of communism, stating that it is important to learn to get along with communist groups. [Letter from Burton to LP February 18, 1949] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #37.16, file:(B: Correspondence 1949)]
• Letter from LP to President DuBridge RE: Writes to thank him and the Board of Trustees for arranging the transfer of his appointment to the 12-month basis. [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia, California Institute of Technology: Assorted Financial Materials: 1945-1965: Box #1.032, Folder 32.2]
• Letter from LP to Ralph Spitzer RE: Thanks him for the information. Encloses letter to President Strand and mentions writing to Dr. Oppenheimer and Dean Taylor saying he trusts the fellowship is still available. [Letter from Ralph Spitzer to LP November 18, 1949] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: Ralph Spitzer: Academic Freedom and Passport Difficulties, 1942-1994: Box #2.034, Folder 34.2]
• Letter from Lester Berkowitz, Phi Lambda Upsilon, to LP. RE: Is please that he accepted the invitation. Informs him of when and where the colloquium will be held. Extends an invitation for a dinner. [Filed under LP Science: American Chemical Society: Correspondence, 1948-1949: Box #14.004 Folder #4.2]
• Letter from Washington Conference on Foreign Policy to LP RE: States that the conference has been moved from March 9 to March 15 and requests an answer by mail. [Letter from Kingsbury to LP February 23, 1949, from LP to Kingsbury March 1, 1949] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #200.14, file:(K: Correspondence, 1949)]
• Typescript: No Title, Letter to the Editor of The Daily Barometer (Oregon State University) [re: Ralph Spitzer; addressed to A.L. Strand and released to The Daily Barometer] [Filed under LP Manuscripts, 1949a.1]