Oregon State UniversitySpecial Collections & Archives Research Center

Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers, 1873-2013

Ava Helen and Linus Pauling, O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, 1979. Photo courtesy of Michele and Anthony Silvetti.
Portrait of Linus Pauling, Oregon Agricultural College, ca. 1920.
Linus Pauling in his Caltech laboratory, 1930s.
Linus Pauling and Ava Helen Miller, 1922.
Linda, Linus, Ava Helen, Crellin, Linus Jr., and Peter Pauling, Pasadena, California, 1941.
Notes by Linus Pauling on metal radii.
The Nobel Chemistry medal, 1954; and Nobel Peace medal, 1962.
Linus Pauling, 1980s. Leigh Wiener, photographer.
Linus and Ava Helen Pauling standing in the doorway of their cabin at Deer Flat Ranch, Big Sur, California, 1964. Arthur Herzog, photographer.

Information and Credits

MSS Pauling

Linus Pauling (1901-1994), a 1922 OSU graduate and the only recipient of two unshared Nobel Prizes, (Chemistry, 1954; Peace, 1962) undertook a wide range of studies during his seventy-year career as a scientist, humanitarian and peace activist. The collection, comprised of over five hundred thousand items, contains all of Pauling's personal and scientific papers, research materials, correspondence, photographs, awards, and memorabilia. Not only does the Pauling archive reflect Linus Pauling's long and varied scientific career, the presence of Ava Helen Pauling's (1903-1981) papers also indicates their mutual devotion to world peace and to each other.

FEATURED

Student Learning Curriculum
by Patricia D'Andrade. 1999. 17 pages.

This reading curriculum is meant to give an introduction to Pauling’s scientific work and also to provide a brief look at some of the personal and political aspects of his life. As the collection is so immense, the reading material suggested is highly selective and not meant to be comprehensive. Links are provided to digitized material online when available.

Pauling Chronology
by Dr. Robert Paradowski. 2006. 28 pages.

Written by biographer Robert Paradowski, the Pauling Chronology is the most detailed overview of Linus Pauling's ancestry, life and work available on the web. Dozens of illustrations are incorporated throughout the Chronology to highlight key aspects of Pauling's life. Likewise, the inclusion of hundreds of links to primary source materials provides numerous avenues for deeper exploration of Pauling's fascinating story.

La Cronología de Pauling
by Dr. Robert Paradowski. 2010. 28 pages.

Ahora en español – la visión general más detallada de la ascendencia, vida y trabajo de Linus Pauling disponible en el Internet.

Chronologie von Linus Pauling
by Dr. Robert Paradowski. 2014. 28 pages.

Jetzt in Deutsch - die detaillierte Übersicht von Linus Pauling Herkunft, Leben und Arbeit im Internet verfügbar.

Linus Pauling Online
Linus Pauling Online
A portal to the web's best collection of resources on the life and work of Linus Pauling.

The Pauling Blog
The Pauling Blog
Updated weekly, the Pauling Blog presents the stories of Linus and Ava Helen Pauling's remarkable lives in a format that is accessible to a wide range of audiences.

Linus Pauling Day-by-Day
Linus Pauling Day-by-Day
An ambitious and expanding documentation of every day of Linus and Ava Helen Pauling's lives. Currently includes the years 1930-1969.

Linus Pauling and the Structure of Proteins: A Documentary History
Linus Pauling and the Structure of Proteins: A Documentary History
An exhaustive recounting of Pauling's investigations into proteins structures, the nature of antibodies and antigens, biological specificity and more.

The Scientific War Work of Linus C. Pauling: A Documentary History
The Scientific War Work of Linus C. Pauling: A Documentary History
The fascinating story of Linus Pauling's research on rocket propellants, artificial blood, an oxygen meter and many more projects conducted on behalf of the U.S. government during World War II.

Linus Pauling and the Nature of the Chemical Bond: A Documentary History
Linus Pauling and the Nature of the Chemical Bond: A Documentary History
An account of Linus Pauling's Nobel Prize-winning research on the structure of molecules. Amplified by more than 2,500 pages of manuscripts and letters, and over four hours of audio and video.

Linus Pauling and the International Peace Movement: A Documentary History
Linus Pauling and the International Peace Movement: A Documentary History
A chronicle of the lives (and trials) of Linus and Ava Helen Pauling throughout their many years as peace activists. Over fifty audio and video clips are used in the recounting of this fascinating saga - one which culminated in Linus Pauling's receipt of the 1962 Nobel Prize for Peace.

Linus Pauling and the Race for DNA: A Documentary History
Linus Pauling and the Race for DNA: A Documentary History
More than 800 original letters, manuscripts, photographs, audio clips and video excerpts form the heart of this site which documents the discovery of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, the basic foundation of life.

It's in the Blood! A Documentary History of Linus Pauling, Hemoglobin and Sickle Cell Anemia
It's in the Blood! A Documentary History of Linus Pauling, Hemoglobin and Sickle Cell Anemia
An exploration of Linus Pauling's research into how blood works at the molecular level, this site details Pauling's vital contributions to the study of immunology, sickle-cell anemia, genetics, evolution and human health.

Linus Pauling Research Notebooks
Linus Pauling Research Notebooks
A fully-indexed digital library of Pauling's 46 research notebooks. The materials span from 1922-1994, covering any number of the scientific fields in which Dr. Pauling was involved.

Linus Pauling: A Centenary Exhibit
Linus Pauling: A Centenary Exhibit
A great introduction to Pauling's many achievements, featuring materials from both the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives.

Linus Pauling's Awards, Honors and Medals
Linus Pauling's Awards, Honors and Medals
A gallery of high-quality images of Linus Pauling's numerous awards, honors and medals, this site features multiple search options, including browsing by decade, subject or key-word.

Pauling Timeline

Biographical Note: Linus Pauling  Biographical Note: Ava Helen Pauling 

Content Description

Quantity

4,437 linear feet; 2,230 boxes; 4,111 books

Related Papers

Several oral history interviews available in the History of Science Oral History Collection (OH 17) have been conducted with individuals connected to the lives of Linus and Ava Helen Pauling. Included among these are multi-part recordings with Linus Pauling Jr., Cheryl Pauling, Kay Pauling, Kenneth Hedberg and Stephen Lawson.

Other collections of interest to those researching Pauling include the Ewan Cameron Papers, the Jack Dunitz Papers, the Paul Emmett Papers, the Thomas Hager Papers, the Roger Hayward Papers and the David and Clara Shoemaker Papers.

More Information

Bibliography.