August 8, 1951 - Linus Pauling Day-by-Day

Handwritten note from Peter Pauling to AHP, RE: Explains that he has gone to visit Linie twice during the past two weekends, hitchhiking there and back because Linie has loaned his car. Discusses the rain and his dangerous work with radioactive K42. Says that he has been getting along well with his roommates and has been going to beach parties occasionally. Tells her that he will not be able to get to Boston until the 1st, but that he should see her in New York. Explains that his summer has been sort of lonely. Asks her to tell LP that he is sorry he ruined his car. [Filed under LP Biographical: Personal & Family: (Family Correspondence: Peter Jeffress Pauling, 1939-1953.), Box #5.041, Folder #41.4]

8 August, 1951

Dear Mamma,

Please excuse me for not writing sooner. I hope you have seen the family letters, however.

I have gone to see Linie twice during the preceeding two weekends. The first one, Bob Madden was down and we drove up. I like very much being with them, though occaissionally I am unhappy. We had roast duck last Saturday, and Linie's friend Gorman Hall and wife were there. I hitchhiked up and back; it takes four hours each way, and I do not like it. However, it costs $3.00 each way on the train, so I guess I shall hitch hike. Linie had loaned one of his cars so that he cannot lend me one. I am somewhat disappointed, but there is nothing I can do. I would like to travel around a bit, and I suppose I shall.

It is raining a good deal, last night and all today. Usually the weather is fine. I am working reasonably hard, but right now I do not know what to do. I work with radioactive potassium K42, which is somewhat dangerous, so I must be careful.

I have been getting along fairly well with my roommates. There are six beds, three above three. I am now in a lower, but the fellow above moves rather violently and wakens me. Only one fellow is rather inconsiderate. Actually, I am not in the room very much of the time.

I have been going to beach parties occasionally. We have lobsters and beer. It is very good. I have run two parties so far, but it is work and I lose money.

You will arrive in Boston on the 29^th. I do not think I can get there until the 1^st however I may well see you in New York. I do not yet have a ride home, though I am working on it.

Linda has written enormous letters. In one she said I must write so Mamma will not think I am dead.

The summer has not been, I fear, my happiest. It has been pleasant, but sort of lonely. But life is life, and anything new is good, I guess, at least for a while. I fear my feeling for Mariette are greater than deeper than I realized.

Please tell Daddy that I am sorry I ruined his car. Also remind him of the four possible cars to ruin, I picked the one that had something more between the car and the road than my head.

Much love,

Peter

*With apologies to Linda

Letter from C. H. Bamford, Courtaulds, Limited, to LP RE: Thanks him for the invitation to visit, and states that he would be pleased to give a seminar talk. There is a handwritten note in pencil in the left margin: “[Jerry] has noted date for seminar. Reservation made at Athenaeum. BW.” [Letter from LP to Bamford, July 25, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1951), #37.18]

Letter from C. Sheldon Hart, Carleton College, to LP RE: Thanks him for his kind letter and the information that he requested. [Letter from LP to Hart, July 25, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (H: Correspondence, 1951), #166.2]

Letter from Dr. Edmund L. Keeney, San Diego County Medical Society, to LP RE: Asks LP to send his bibliography by next week, so they can have posters and handouts ready for the October meeting. Informs LP that the Women’s Auxiliary will not attend the meeting, so he does not have to tone down his paper to their level. Tells LP that everyone is excited about his upcoming visit. Inquires if LP plans to stay overnight and if AHP will be joining him at the meeting. Handwritten note asks LP to send a biography and photograph as well. [Letter from Keeney to LP, July 19, 1951] [Letter from Wulf to Keeney, August 10, 1951] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1951s.17]

Letter from J. M. Ellis, Project Review Offer, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, to LP RE: Asks for LP’s comments about Dr. N. Rashevsky for a grant to fund “Studies in the Mathematical Biophysics of Metabolizing Systems.” [Letter from LP to Ellis, August 15, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (N: Correspondence, 1951), #287.18]

Letter from Kurt G. Stern, Vice-Chairman, Gordon Conference on Nucleic Acids & Proteins, to LP RE: States that it is unfortunate that LP will not be able to attend the conference. [Letter from LP to Stern, July 30, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Stern, Kurt G.), #368.2]

Letter from LP to Dr. E. Britten, Biology Department, University of Hawaii, RE: Thanks him for the transparencies that he sent. Discusses an upcoming trip to Canada. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1951), #37.18]

Letter from LP to Dr. Frederick D. Rossini, Chairman, Committee on Physical Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, NRC RE: Approves the report of the subcommittee on Physico-Chemical standards. [Letter from Rossini to LP July 31, 1951] [Filed under LP Science: (National Research Council, 1950-1992), Box #14.028, Folder #28.1]

Letter from LP to John D. Roberts, Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, RE: States that he does not recall the points Roberts mentioned in his letter, but that he remembers talking with him about C4H7+. Expands on the topic of C4H7+. [Letter from Roberts to LP, August 1, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Roberts, John D.), #330.6]

Letter from LP to W. H. Freeman, W. H. Freeman & Co. RE: Requests that a copy of both General Chemistry and College Chemistry be sent to Mrs. Lucille Jenkins and charged to his account. [Filed under LP Books: 1947b6.2]

Letter from LP to W. H. Freeman, W. H. Freeman & Co., RE: Says the plan for revising General Chemistry outlined in Freeman’s August 2 letter is acceptable. Discusses the possibility of having the revision ready by June 1952. [Letter from Freeman to LP August 2, 1951] [Filed under LP Books: 1947b6.2]

Letter from President T. W. J. Taylor, University College of the West Indies, to LP RE: Says that he is going to try and make August somewhat of a holiday and will have the arrangements for his visit finished in September. Also says that there is no objection to a press release. [Letter from LP to Taylor, August 2, 1951] [Letter from LP to Taylor, August 22, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Taylor, T. W.), #405.7]

Memo from A.H. Walter to Beatrice Wulf RE: Sends her a carbon copy and asks her to return the original. Handwritten note in bottom left corner: “original sent to A.W. 8/8/51.” [Letter from Allen to LP August 2, 1951] [Memo from Walter to Green August 10, 1951] [Filed under LP Science: (United States Public Health Service: “X-Ray Diffraction Investigations of the Structure of Protein Molecules”, grant RG 1987, [changed to H-2143 (Chemistry 1950)], 1948-1958), Box #14.041, Folder #41.1]

Note from J. S. McKinley McKee, Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, to LP RE: Encloses his application to conduct research at the Institute. [Letter from LP to McKinley, August 18, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1951), #256.2]

Note from LP to W. H. Freeman RE: Says that he would be in favor of having one all- inclusive science series. States that he believes Pitzer would be an excellent choice for the editorial board. Also mentions that Saul Winstein would be an excellent choice as an organic chemist. [Letter from Freeman to LP, August 2, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (W. H. Freeman and Company, 1951), #439.9]

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