Major Events

  • On January 2, Time magazine chooses the scientists of the United States as its "Men of the Year." Linus Pauling is one of the scientists on the cover.
  • On March 17, Pauling is honored as Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association. Mrs. Cyrus Eaton presents the award to him at a meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, where Pauling speaks on "Humanism and Peace."
  • Pauling publishes his molecular theory of general anesthesia in Science. He feels that the time is ripe for the formation of a "molecular psychology," in which chemical techniques and theories can illuminate such phenomena as consciousness, memory, and sedation.
  • On January 16, Linus and Ava Helen Pauling issue "An Appeal to Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons." Because France has carried out a nuclear test, the Paulings feel that it is necessary that vigorous steps be taken to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.
  • In May, Linus and Ava Helen Pauling attend an international peace conference in Oslo, Norway. This conference of physical, biological, and social scientists from fifteen countries issues the "Oslo Statement," which urges the cessation of nuclear tests and the initiation of complete global disarmament.
  • On August 6, Pauling gives a "Hiroshima Day Address" before the Los Angeles Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy.
  • On October 18, after the Soviet Union resumes nuclear testing, Pauling sends a telegram to Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev, entreating him to carry out no further tests (at the same time, he sends a telegram to President Kennedy, asking that the United States undertake no atmospheric nuclear tests). Pauling receives a long letter from Khrushchev, which is dated October 27, stating that the Soviet Union feels regrettably forced to carry out new tests with nuclear weapons.
  • In November, Linus and Ava Helen Pauling attend the second centenary celebrations of the Academy of Science in Moscow. While there, they lecture on disarmament and peace.
Chronology by Robert Paradowski.

Travel

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 Moscow, USSR (29)
See the Paulings' activities in January 1961
See the Paulings' activities in January 1961

Snapshot

Group portrait of participants at the Oslo Conference. Picture. 1961
Group portrait of participants at the Oslo Conference. 1961. Larger Image / More Information

Statistics

  • 7920 activity listings
  • 53 scanned documents
  • 107 full-text transcripts

Activity Listings - 1961 (No Date)