Activity Listings
- Handwritten note from LP to the Gentlemen at the California Institute Research Foundation. [LP Safe: Drawer 1, Folder 1.031]
April 9, 1942
Restricted
Calif. Inst. Res. Foundation
1201 E. Calif. St.
Pasadena
Gentlemen:
The history of my invention of the oxygen meter is the following.
On October 3, 1940 I attended a meeting of the NDRC in Washington in which the need for an oxygen meter was mentioned. On October 8 I made the invention, and telegraphed the NDRC for permission to hire an assistant. This was granted, and Dr. Reuben Wood was hired on an OSRD contract dated October 9, 1940, to reduce the invention to practice. The Government holds an irrevocable royalty-free license to manufacture the instrument.
The patent covering the original invention, assigned to the Research Foundation, will not be issued until after the war, in order that it be kept secret.
No agreement has been reached by the Foundation and me regarding the disposition of returns from the patent.
The instruments are now being manufactured by the California Institute and sold to the Armed Forces, approved defense plants, and other approved purchasers. It is clear that the instrument will find wide use in peace time in many industries, including mines, chemical plants of various sorts, airplanes, laboratories, etc.
Dr. Reuben Wood and Dr. JH Sturdivant, who assisted in reducing the original invention to practice, have made some subsidiary inventions which seem to be of value. Since they have already been released for use, it seems desirable that patent applications covering them be made without delay.
Note written on the side: Since these men weren't named as inventors on the original application, they can't be paid, or the patent would be invalidated.
The original invention, which is not chemical in nature, was not related to my duties at the Institute and did not grow out of my regular work, but was instead developed from the suggestion of the NDRC that such an instrument was needed. The inventions of Wood and Sturdivant were made in connection with the reduction to practice of the original invention, but represent work beyond that for which they were employed.
Respectfully yours,
Linus Pauling
(The content of this letter was presented orally by me to the Trustees of the Foundation at the California Club on April 9, 1942. LP)
- Letter [dated April 8, 1942] from LP to Dr. Clifford S. Garner, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas, RE: Reports he is writing because his suggestions are not definite. Requests Garner write with further information so that LP can offer more concrete recommendations. Asks if Garner has contacted Giauque or Kistiakowsky. [Telegram from Garner to LP April 9, 1942, letter from Garner to LP April 15, 1942] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #140.7, file:(G: Correspondence, 1942)]
- Letter from Arthur M. Walker, Assistant to the Chairman, Committee on Medical Research, to LP. RE: Returned form NNI-140 so that the first page may be completed by CIT. Asks that it be sent back by airmail. [Filed under LP Science: Scientific War Work - Materials re: Oxypolygelatin, 1941-1945, 1951-1952, 1972-1974: Box #13.004 Folder #4.1]
- Letter from G.H.A. Clowes, director of The Lilly Research Laboratories, to LP. RE: Has read LP account on the production of antibodies in vitro, requests further publications. Suggests that LP comes to visit when he is on the east coast. [Filed under LP Science: Materials re: Antibody and Antigen Research; the Nature of Serological Reactions, 1940-1947, 1950-1952, 1973, 1986: Box #7.001 Folder #1.1]
- Letter from R. H. Gillette to LP RE: appreciates offer of a fellowship in the institute for doing research in structural theory, however, the regents have decided that leaves of absence will be granted only for urgent war work. Hopes arrangements can be made when the war is over. [Letters from LP to Gillette March 24, 1942, April 14, 1942] [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia: Box 1.017, Folder 17.3]
- Letter from W. Elmer Ramsey to LP RE: Discusses the work of one of his clients on ultra-violet radiation in relation to infectious bacteria. Mentions dining with Tuffy Ross and Jack Cowley. [Letter from LP to W. Elmer Ramsey April 15, 1942] [Filed under LP Correspondence: #340.7]
- Telegram from Dr. Clifford S. Garner, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas, RE: Requests LP send suggestions for NDRC work via telegram. [Letter from LP to April 9, 1942] [Filed under LP Correspondence: Box #140.7, file:(G: Correspondence, 1942)]
- Writes cheque to "Freeda Locke," $45.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: Business and Financial, Box 4.016, Folder 16.2]
- Writes cheque to "Frieda Locke" $45.00 [LP Biographical: Business and Financial 4.072, folder 72.4]
|