August 6, 1937
Dr. Carl Niemann
Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research
66th Street and York Avenue
New York, New York
Dear Dr. Niemann:
I am very sorry to learn of the accident to your eye, and I hope that you continue
to improve.
The list of equipment and apparatus which you sent to me will be very useful to us
in the formulation of our application to the Rockefeller Foundation and especially,
of course, in stocking the new laboratory. The Crellin Building is being constructed
with surprising rapidity; concrete is now being poured on the third floor walls, and
I expect that the roof will be poured in a couple of weeks.
Our plans at present are to postpone decision about the appointment of a microanalyst
until the professorial appointments in organic chemistry have been made, that is,
until another staff member in addition to you has been appointed. We shall probably
want to take up the question of the appointment of a microanalyst next spring or summer,
and I hope that you will keep in touch with me concerning this. Could you give me
some idea as to the salaries that Dr. Elek and the younger man you mention would be
interested in? Do you think that it would be satisfactory for you to order the stock
of special reagents that you need after you have taken up residence? In case that
you desire an order to be placed before then, please send a list to me.
I believe that at present you would not be able to find in Pasadena a young man with
the experience in organic and biochemistry which would make him suitable as an assistant
for you, and I suggest that during the next year you keep on the lookout for a suitable
assistant. As I recall you were authorized to spend £1500.00 annually as salary for
your assistant.
I shall write to you later about the nature of the laboratories. The contract has
already been let for the chemical desks, but not that for the furniture, including
glass faced cases, and your suggestions with respect to this point would be useful.
Dr. Buchman, who is here with an assistant, Dr. Richardson, to carry on his researches
on analogs of vitamin B1 with the support of the Chemical Foundation, has made a study
of the library and has prepared a list of old journals and of text and reference books
of organic chemistry which are needed to make the library reasonably complete. After
your arrival you may want to make some further suggestions.
With best regards, I am
Yours sincerely,
Linus Pauling
LP: fkg
