Letter from Linus Pauling to John R. Pierce. November 7, 1955. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 1 p.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Check from AHP to David Hyen for $100.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, December 1954-February 1956), Box #4.023, Folder #23.1]
• Check from AHP to Florence Carlsson for $194.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Financial Notebooks, 1956-1982), Box #4.080, Folder #80.1]
• Check from AHP to Hjalmar Carlsson for $194.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Financial Notebooks, 1956-1982), Box #4.080, Folder #80.1]
• Letter from Dr. Alexander Rich, Cavendish Laboratory, Physics Dept., University of Cambridge, to LP. [Letter from LP to Alexander Rich October 5, 1955, Memo from LP to R. Marsh in November (general)] [Filed under LP Science: Box #6.004, Folder #4.20] [Also filed under LP Correspondence: (R: Individual Correspondence. (Reynolds - Riley)), #329.3]

  Dear Dr. Pauling,

  Thank you for the dimensions of the proline ring and your comments about the collagen model which Francis and I have formulated.

  We are indeed aware of the disadvantages which you describe, especially those dealing with the deficit of Hydrogen bonds. However, if the sequence –gly–pro–hypro occurs systematically in collagen, one must of necessity lose hydrogen bonds, neglecting for the moment those introduced through side chains.

  I am enclosing a copy of the manuscript which we sent off to Nature, and which should appear soon.

  We have looked at the infra-red absorption predicted by this model (I should say these models) and we believe the amide II dichroism would be II and weak. In this determination we have filled about 1/3rd of the pro sites with proline and 1/3rd the hypro sites with hydroxyproline. We have also used the transition moments obtained by Sandeman (Proc. Roy. Soc. A232, IC5, Oct. 1955), which were similar to those obtained by Arthur Elliott in studying Acetamidizole. However, I quite agree that one should not put too much weight on the finer features of the infra-red spectrum.

  With best regards, yours sincerely,

  Alex

• Letter from LP to Dean Hugh Stott Taylor, Princeton University, RE: Sorry to learn that Taylor had been in Pasadena October 29 - November 1 because this time coincided with LP's trip east. Would have enjoyed seeing Taylor. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (T: Individual Correspondence. (Tamm - Taylor, W.H.)), #405.6]
• Letter from LP to Dr. J. T. Braunholtz RE: Happy to hear that Braunholtz enjoyed his year at Caltech. Congratulates Braunholtz on his Fellowship at Trinity College. Hopes to that Braunholtz and his wife might be able to visit Pasadena again. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1955-1957), #38.1]
• Letter from LP to Dr. William S. Collens, RE: Glad that Collens was interested in LP's after-dinner talk in Detroit. Agrees that many diseases that present genetic characteristics have a molecular basis. As there are so many molecules in the human body, it is difficult to know where to look for the abnormal ones. Hopes that he did not give the impression of minimizing Landsteiner's work on blood types. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (C: Correspondence, 1921-1957), #74.23]
• Letter from LP to Linus Pauling, Jr. [Filed under LP Biographical: Box #5.037, Folder #37.8]

  10 November 1955

  Dear Linie and Anita:

  I am writing especially to ask if you received a copy of the application that I had prepared to the Ford Foundation for a grant in support of a program of research on mental deficiency. At the same time that the copy was to be sent to you, I had intended that a copy be sent to Max Mason. I saw him a few days ago, and he said that he had not received his copy (I then gave him a copy), and it occurred to me that your copy also might not have been mailed.

  I have just returned from a brief trip east. I served as chairman at a symposium on molecular structure and biological specificity, in Washington, D.C., held under the auspices of the Office of Naval Research. Then I went to Detroit, and gave the Edsel B. Ford Lecture, to a large crowd of people, mainly chemists and biologists that were attending a symposium on enzymes. My lecture was on the future of enzyme chemistry. Mrs. Edsel Ford was there, and said that she understood every word of what I had to say.

  Mama did not go with me on this trip. She and I had been in New York, Washington, and Philadelphia for nearly two weeks, around the middle of October. I received an honorary doctor's degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, visited the Public Health Service people in Washington, and gave a talk on the structure of metals and alloys before the Institute of Metals, meeting in Philadelphia. We rented a car in New York, and had a fine drive north along the Hudson, then through the park near Bear Mountain, and south to Washington, and then back to New York by way of Philadelphia.

  Linda has not come home yet, and she seems to be postponing her travel from month to month. Peter seems to be getting along well with his research. Mama seems to be in good health. She has a full-time maid now, Mrs. Jordan, who lives near us on the hill. She has been putting in a day or two each week working with the Quakers, and also with the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom.

  Love from

  Linus Pauling:W

• Letter from LP to Mary Alves, Editorial Service Dept., Time, Time and Life Building, RE: LP and AHP thank Alves and her associates for sending them another print of the photograph taken at the American Philosophical Society meeting. [Letter from Alves to LP November 1, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (L: Organizational Correspondence. (La - Lo)), #219.3]
• Letter from LP to Peter Pauling. [Filed under LP Biographical: Box #5.042, Folder #42.2]

  10 November 1955

  Dear Peter:

  I am writing to tell you that Ed Condon told me that his son Paul Condon is now at 3 Somerhill Road, Somertown, Oxford. I told Ed and Mrs. Condon that I would let you know about Paul.

  I judge that Paul is about 21 years old. You may remember him, as one of the Condon boys in the Condon house when we stayed with them at the Bureau of Standards. Paul has just finished his undergraduate work at Harvard, and he was then awarded a Sheldon Traveling Fellowship by Harvard University, permitting him to travel about Europe for one year. I think that he is expecting to stay about three months in Oxford, and whether or not he plans to visit Cambridge I do not know. However, I should think it would be just as well for him to put in some time in Cambridge and you might think it worth while to write to him, suggesting that he come over for at least a short visit. I am not sure how much good a traveling fellowship of this sort does a young physicist who has not yet started out on research. Mama and I entertained Lord Halsbury at dinner last night - he was the only guest. He is a very interesting fellow, a chemist by profession. He seems to me to know a great deal. I don't understand how he came to be a lord.

  Mrs. Jordan is working full time for us now, and Mama has time accordingly to do other things. She has been putting in a day every week working with the Quakers, and also some time with the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom.

  Love from

  Linus Pauling:W

• Letter from LP to Professor Bernard A. Lippman, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, RE: The work that LP and his group are doing in solid state physics with ONR research deals mainly with the determination of the structure of complex intermetallic compounds. Under separate cover, sends recent reprints. Have not been preparing separate reports of the work for distribution because the results obtained are being published without much delay. [Letter from Lippman to LP October 13, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (L: Correspondence, 1955-1960), #231.1]
• Letter from LP to Professor David P. Shoemaker, MIT, RE: Encloses manuscript sent by Dr. Clapp and the translation of the Russian paper. Cannot see any objection to showing the paper to Blitzer. Hopes that Shoemaker's wife has been able to come to Cambridge by now. Sorry not to see Shoemaker at the American Institute of Metals Symposium. Lord Halsbury has recently visited. Describes some of Halsbury's achievements. Two copies. [Letter from Shoemaker to LP October 10, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Individual Correspondence. (Shaw - Shriver)), #363.3]
• Letter from LP to Professor Jacob Kleinberg, Chemistry Dept., University of Kansas, RE: Has written to Phi Lambda Upsilon and accepted their invitation to deliver the E.C. Franklin Memorial Lecture this year, suggesting May 7 as the date. [Letters from Kleinberg to LP October 19, 1955, December 6, 1955] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1956s.22]
• Letter from LP to Professor Joseph B. Platt, Physics Dept., University of Rochester, RE: Does not have his 1929 and 1930 notebooks conveniently at hand and so cannot tell Platt what he used for a Debye temperature of fuchsite. Fairly sure that the intensities of reflection that he reported are for molybdenum K-alpha and not for copper K-alpha. Has not been following x-ray work on the mica minerals during recent years, so cannot give references on the mosaic crystal coefficient for the micas. Suggests that Platt check the volumes of Strukturbericht and of Structure Reports. If they absolutely need to know the Debye temperature that LP used, Platt can write again, and LP will dig through his old research books to find it. [Letters from Platt to LP October 19, 1955, November 14, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (P: Correspondence, 1953-1959), #313.3]
• Letter from LP to Robert W. McKinney, Corresponding Secretary, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Chemistry Dept., University of Kansas, RE: Accepts invitation to deliver the E.C. Franklin Memorial Lecture at the University of Kansas. A date in April or early May, perhaps May 7, would work best for LP. LP and AHP would arrive in Lawrence on Saturday or Sunday. [Letter from McKinney to LP October 18, 1955, November 14, 1955] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1956s.22]
• Letter from LP to S. Ghosh, General Secretary, National Academy of Sciences, India RE: LP is glad to accept the honor of Honorary Fellow of the National Academy of Science of India and will send a photograph under separate cover. Later he will send an article and biography. [Letter from Ghosh to LP November 2, 1955] [Filed under LP Science: (John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, 1953-1975), Box #14.015, Folder #15.3]
• Letter from Odis C. Clark, Science Club Advisor, Highland Local Schools, to Gentlemen at Caltech, RE: Confirms that Paul Kelley is a student at Highland high school and a member in good standing of the Highland Science Club. Kelley is currently working on a project on the development in the utilization of solar power and plans to be an engineer. The school and the club would appreciate any assistance that Caltech might be able to provide. [Letter from Kelley to Gentlemen November 9, 1955, Letter from LP to Kelley November 26, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (K: Correspondence, 1936-1956), #200.20]
• Letter from Paul F. Hopper, Chairman, General Planning Committee, Symposium on Molecular Structure and Biological Specificity, to Dr. E.E. Dunn, Biochemical Research Dept., Dow Chemical Company, RE: Thanks Dunn for his company's generous contribution of financial support for the Symposium on Molecular Structure and Biological Specificity. Encloses a copy of the program. Will send a copy of the proceedings when it is published. [Filed under LP Speeches: 1955s.24]
• Letter from Professor John Happel, Chairman, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, New York University, to LP RE: The NYU Department of Chemical Engineering has undertaken a re-examination of policies regarding the admission of students to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Engineering Science. One of the requirements is a qualifying examination. Interested in comparing this exam with similar exams given at other universities which grant this degree. Requests representative copies of qualifying examinations which have been given recently at Caltech. Requests any related information, such as the duration of the exam and the minimum acceptable grade. [Letter from LP to Happel November 21, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (H: Correspondence, 1950-1955), #166.6]
• Proposed Itinerary: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor [Filed under LP Travel: Box #1.002, Folder 2.1]
• Review by LP regarding "The Crystal Structure of Turnips Yellows Virus Protein" by Labaw and Wyckoff. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Organizational Correspondence. (Sa - Sc)), #374.6]