Letter from Linus Pauling to David Harker. February 6, 1951. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 2 pp.  View Transcript

<   February  1951   > 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       Travel: Columbus, OH

Activity Listings

• Hemoglobin Report written by LP to DHC RE: Discusses studies made, results found, and conclusions drawn. Proposes to continue investigation of the steric-hindrance theory of heme-heme interaction and to extend the studies to include abnormal hemoglobins. Note in corner: “Hemoglobin Report to DHC 2/6/51.” [Filed under LP Science: (Materials re: Oxypolygelatin Blood Plasma Substitute, 1945-1951), Box #6.003, Folder #3.3]
• Itinerary: Lecture at Ohio State at 8 PM [Filed under LP Travel: Box #1.001 Folder 1.9 and LP Speeches: 1951s.3]
• Itinerary: Phi Lambda, Ohio State University; 3 lectures; Deshler-Wallick Hotel [Filed under LP Travel: Box #1.001 Folder 1.9]
• Letter from Dr. Ray Q. Brewster, Chairman, Department of Chemistry, U of Kansas to Dr. Harry L. Fisher, National Research Council, cc: LP RE: Explains that they would not be able to bring Clar to Kansas for a lecture but lists other scientists they would be willing to invite. [Letter from Fisher to LP January 25, 1951, Letter from Fisher to Brewster March 2, 1951] [Filed under LP Science: (National Research Council, 1950-1992), Box #14.028, Folder #28.2]
• Letter from Frederic Joliot-Curie, President, World Peace Council, to LP RE: Transcribed in French. [Filed under LP Peace: (Assorted Peace Groups (Wo-Yo)), Box #4.017, Folder #17.5]
• Letter from Jean Sanford, W. H. Freeman & Co., to LP RE: Thanks LP for his response to the proposed advertisement. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (W. H. Freeman and Company, 1951), #439.9]
• Letter from LP [Signed by Beatrice Wulf] to Charles E. Higgins RE: Responds to the matters raised in Higgins’ letter, focusing on heat exchange and Higgins’ proposal. [Letters from Higgins to LP November 16, 1951, February 27, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (H: Correspondence, 1951), #166.2]
• Letter from LP [Signed by Beatrice Wulf] to Maurice Beam, Editorial Department, Los Angeles Times, RE: Responds to Beam’s questions about conducting experiments with glyoxal. [Letter from Beam to LP November 17, 1950] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1951), #37.18]
• Letter from LP to David Harker, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. [Letters from Harker to LP October 25, 1951, February 19, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Harker, David), #151.10]

  February 6, 1951

  Dr. David Harker

  Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn

  99 Livingston Street

  Brooklyn 2, New York

  Dear Dave:

  A week or so ago Eddie Hughes mentioned to me that I had not answered your last letter. I did not remember that I had not answered it — I guess that I had planned to answer it, then had been interrupted, and had a memory of my plan rather than of the fact. Accordingly, I have been looking over a pile of unanswered letters on my desk today, and have found yours, which I now answer.

  I do not have any objection to your asking Palmer for a copy of his intensity results on lysozyme. Probably you have already written to him. I am sorry to have neglected to tell you that it is all right to do so.

  As to Sidney Weinbaum, I judge that he would have liked to appeal the case, but he did not have money enough to pay the cost of an appeal, and the judge turned down a petition for an appeal in forma pauperis. Sidney seems to have felt that he was innocent, but it seems to me that he may have been relying upon some technicality. Opinion among people who attended the trial is divided. I was away from California when the trial was going on.

  Did you notice the note that Dr. Corey and I had in the November issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society? We feel very enthusiastic about our new polypeptide configurations. We are just finishing up some calculations before writing a long paper on the subject.

  I feel very pleased with the way that our work on proteins is progressing. Fifteen years ago I stated in an application to the Rockefeller Foundation for support of our work (the attack on the protein problem by way of amino acids and other simple substances) that it would take fifteen or twenty years, but that ultimately the structure of proteins would be determined. I felt then that I was being optimistic, but I think that it will turn out that the statement was justified.

  I have just been writing up a paper on hemoglobin in which evidence is presented to show that the hemoglobin molecule is a rather

  Dr. Harker

  fat sort of sandwich, consisting of two thick slices of protein bread, with four salami slices (the hemes) in between.

  With best regards, I am

  Sincerely yours,

  Dictated by Linus Pauling

  Signed in his absence:W

• Letter from LP to Fred J. Allen, Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, RE: States that he is glad Professor Allen liked his article in Chemical and Engineering News. Discusses his grandchildren and notes that both of their first grandchildren are about the same age. Mentions AHP’s and his upcoming eastern trip, during which they will stop in Boston to see their family. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Allen, Fred, 1950-1954), #5.3]
• Letter from LP to George E. Farrand RE: States that he is glad that Farrand liked the article about science and the citizen. Invites Farrand and his wife to have dinner with them later in February. Says that Professor Beadle and his wife would probably come as well, which would give them a chance to talk. [Letter from Farrand to LP January 22, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Farrand, George, 1949-1954), #117.6]
• Letter from LP to M. F. Perutz, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, RE: Discusses Perutz’ article with Michison on sickle cell anemia, as it appeared in Nature. Relates his sandwich theory of the structure of hemoglobin. [Letters from Perutz to LP December 14, 1950, February 14, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Perutz, Max: Correspondence), #307.1]
• Letter from LP to M. Magat, Laboratorie de Chimie-Physique de la Facultè des Sciences de Paris, RE: Asks Magat to let him know when his schedule is made and states that he looks forward to seeing him. [Letters from Magat to LP January 27, 1951, July 17, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1951), #256.2]
• Letter from LP to Sidney Weinbaum RE: Tells him that Corey is now working on the Patterson project in an attempt to compare the polypeptide chain to that of other proteins. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Weinbaum, Sidney, 1951), #433.6]