August 13, 1937

Dr. Carl Niemann

The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research

66th Street and York Avenue

New York, New York

Dear Dr. Niemann:

The second and third floors of the new Crellin Laboratory, each with floor space 50x120' are assigned to work in organic chemistry. In addition a laboratory in the basement is assigned to microchemistry, and there is room in the pent house for large scale work.

There are four large rooms, 20x50', at the ends of the two organic floors. One of these is assigned to undergraduate instruction in organic chemistry and the other three are available for graduate students carrying on research and perhaps for graduate instruction also. It is planned that the graduate students in organic chemistry be carefully selected and be restricted in number in the same way as the graduate students in physical chemistry. At present there are about twenty-five graduate students in chemistry, of whom about five work in the organic field. In addition to the stock room and fourteen general utility rooms, including cold room, machinery room, optical room, balance room, combustion room, small conference room, etc., there are three studies, about 8x16', and eight laboratories of varying size, in the main about 16x16'. I believe that the disposition of these rooms among the staff members will not be made until after completion of the building, and we can anticipate that readjustments will have to be made later. We have working in organic chemistry at present Professor Lucas, Dr. Koepfli, Dr. English, and Dr. Buchman with his assistant Dr. Richardson. Dr. Buchman has just come to Pasadena to carry on his research during the coming year on the synthesis of analogs of vitamin B1 with the support of the Research Corporation.

In addition to these men and you and your assistant and students, it is possible that we shall have to make provision for Dr. A. R. Todd and his coworkers. Dr. Todd has not been offered a position on the staff, but he is coming here during the month of February to deliver a set of lectures, and there is some chance that he will remain permanently. I would be glad to know what your opinion of his work is. Moreover, I would like you to visit him in London (he is now at the Lister Institute) in order that you may make his personal acquaintance before he comes here.

With best regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling

LP:mrl