Letter from Linus Pauling to Dr. Willard F. Libby. December 11, 1957. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 1 p.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Check from AHP to Hugh Wade for $40.10. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, February 1956-December 1957), Box #4.024, Folder #24.2]
• Check from AHP to Roess Market for $11.91. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, February 1956-December 1957), Box #4.024, Folder #24.2]
• Letter from LP to Donald J. O'Connor RE: Informs him that catalytic platinum and palladium metals are not cheap and would probably not be effective in devitalizing spermatozoa. Comments that it would be better to develop a cheap and easy to obtain contraceptive. [Letter from Mr. O'Connor to LP September 16, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (O: Correspondence, 1957), #300.19]
• Letter from LP to Dr. Robert H. Wood, RE: Tells Wood that he is also interested in the properties of inorganic substances in aqueous solutions and explains the work he has done on the topic in collaboration with Dr. Oleg Jardetzky. Says that there is no staff position available in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech. Informs Wood that he received a letter from Professor Corwin Hansch of Pomona University saying that they are looking people to teach analytical and physical chemistry. [Letter from Wood to LP, November 28, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (W: Correspondence, 1953-1959.), Box #444, Folder #444.5]
• Letter from LP to Dr. W. H. Taylor, Cavendish Laboratory, RE: Says that he is not sure about Bown receiving an appointment in their laboratory, but that he should apply for one of their Arthur Amos Noyes Fellowships in chemistry, which is granted for one year and carries a stipend of $4800. Encloses an application form. [Letter from Taylor to LP, December 5, 1957] [Letter from Taylor to LP, January 3, 1958] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (T: Individual Correspondence. (Tamm - Taylor, W. H.00, Box #405, Folder #405.8]
• Letter from LP to Dr. W.F. Libby, United States Atomic Energy Commission. [Letter from Dr. Libby to LP December 3, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Libby, W.F., 1950-1952, 1954-1955, 1957-1958, 1960-1963, 1965), #217.2]

  11 December 1957

  Dr. W. F. Libby

  United States Atomic Energy Commission

  Washington 25, D.C.

  Dear Bill:

  I am glad to have your letter of 3 December, about the paper by Bratoz and Hadzi in the November Journal of Chemical Physics. I heard Professors Bratoz and Hadzi report on this paper, both in Paris and in Ljubljana, the latter being at the International Symposium on Hydrogen Bonds. It seems to me that their theory is a good one; something closely similar was proposed by Pimentel.

  As to applying infrared absorption by hydrogen bonds in the study of protein structure, I may say that a certain amount of this work has been done. In particular, some very useful results have been obtained by measurement of the infrared dichroism, especially in fibrous proteins. So far as I am aware, not much has been done so far in the analysis of absolute intensities as a means of determining the number of hydrogen bonds present in proteins. I suppose that the difficulties in the determination of absolute intensity values are so great that no one has thought it worth while to work hard on this job. Relative intensities, as in the measurement of infrared dichroism, are of course much more easily determined.

  You probably know that the field of determination of the structure of crystalline globular proteins by X-ray diffraction is beginning to look more promising than it has before. Kendrew, in Cambridge, has been making rapid progress. There is still doubt as to whether or not an essentially complete structure determination will be possible within the next five or ten years, but there is some chance that it can be done.

  With best regards, I am

  Sincerely yours,

  [Linus Pauling]

  Linus Pauling:W

• Letter from LP to James A. Moser, Department of Zoology, Duke University RE: Explains that he is interested in the same question as Mr. Moser but has not had any good ideas that seem to answer it. Comments that he feels more experiments will have to be made. Notifies him that the copies of reprints of the article he wanted are all gone but sends him copies of other articles on protein structure. [Note from Mr. Moser to LP August 26, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1957), #257.2]
• Letter from LP to John Wheeler RE: Says that he thinks that stopping nuclear tests is only a first step toward the solution of the larger problem of war. States that he thinks that the world should stay divided into smaller nations and that an international law should be developed to allow people to move from nation to nation. Explains that he doesn't see a sensible and fool-proof solution to the problems and that he doesn't want to take any action that weakens the United States. [Postcard from Wheeler to LP November 26, 1957] [Letter from Wheeler to LP August 2, 1957] [Filed under LP Safe Contents, Drawer 2 Folder 2.001]
• Letter from LP to Pierre Morel, Scientific Attaché of the French Embassy RE: Comments that he is welcome to come to Cal Tech and they will reserve a room for him at the Athenaeum, the faculty club, if he would like. Explains that he is still trying to find out if it will be possible for him to present a seminar during his visit. [Letter from M. Morel to LP December 6, 1957, Memo from LP to Hallet Smith December 11, 1957, Memo from LP to R.F. Bacher December 11, 1957, Letter from Ms. Wulf to M. Morel December 13, 1957, Letter from M. Morel to LP December 16, 1957, Memo from Peter Fay to LP December 17, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1957), #257.2]
• Letter from LP to Professor Paolo Introzzi, President, Seventh Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion RE: Thanks him for the invitation to take part in the congress next year but declines because of a full schedule. Recommends that he invite Dr. Harvey Itano, if he has not already done so. [Letter from Professor Introzzi to LP November 6, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (P: Correspondence, 1957), #313.5]
• Letter from LP to Rev. Howard G. Matson, Pacific Coast Unitarian Council, RE: Looks forward to participating in the Delegates Convention of Pacific Coast Unitarians. Will not be able to stay in San Jose through the period of the convention. Accepts invitation to have dinner with Matson on Friday evening. Encloses some biographical material. Willing to have question-and-answer session after his talk. Does not expect an honorarium. [Letter from Howard G. Matson to LP December 2, 1957, Letter from Howard G. Matson to LP February 28, 1958] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1958s.4]
• Letter from LP to Reverend James T. Smith, Associate General Secretary, Southern California Council of Churches RE: Declines his invitation because he will be out of town when the Convocation takes place but expresses pleasure at the fact that peace is one topic of their seminars. Suggests Professor James T. Wharf of USC be invited to take his place. [Letter from Reverend Smith to LP December 9, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Correspondence, 1957), #380.1]
• Letter from LP to Roy C. Kepler RE: Writes that he will be interested to see what reply Kepler receives from the local editors, regarding the lack of press for the meeting in Northern California. However, states that he was well satisfied with the meeting. [Letter from Kepler to LP December 6, 1957] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1957s2.10]
• Letter from Lakhbir Singh, Physical Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory, India to LP RE: Clarifies the figures in his earlier paper and discusses some of the other issues that LP had with it. Explains that he also should have included some of his other manuscripts about satellite orbits because they help explain the other paper. Discusses anisotropy in other molecules. Handwritten note in top left corner: "not to be answered." Includes a copy of his manuscript "Satellite-Bond Concept of Unsaturated Organic Compounds." [Letter from LP to Mr. Singh November 20, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Correspondence, 1957), #380.1]
• Letter from Louise Andrews, American Friends Service Committee to LP, RE: Thanks LP for his letter of November 22, 1957. Andrews understands LP circumstances and LP's wish to remain free from additional commitments. [Letter from LP to Andrews November 22, 1957] [Filed under LP Peace: (Assorted Peace Groups, Am), Box #4.009, Folder #9.4]
• Memo from LP to Hallet Smith RE: Informs him that Mr. Pierre Morel, Scientific Attaché of the French Embassy, is visiting Cal Tech in January. Wonders whether the Division of Humanities would be interested in having him give a lecture. [Letter from M. Morel to LP December 6, 1957, Memo from LP to R.F. Bacher December 11, 1957, Letter from LP to M. Morel December 11, 1957, Letter from Ms. Wulf to M. Morel December 13, 1957, Letter from M. Morel to LP December 16, 1957, Memo from Peter Fay to LP December 17, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1957), #257.2]
• Memo from LP to R. F. Bacher RE: Notifies him that Mr. Pierre Morel from the French Embassy is planning a visit to Cal Tech in January. Asks if it would be possible for him to speak during the physics seminar. [Letter from M. Morel to LP December 6, 1957, Memo from LP to Hallet Smith December 11, 1957, Letter from LP to M. Morel December 11, 1957, Letter from Ms. Wulf to M. Morel December 13, 1957, Letter from M. Morel to LP December 16, 1957, Memo from Peter Fay to LP December 17, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1957), #257.2]
• Telegram from LP to A.G. Mezerik, Chairman, American Nobel Anniversary Committee, RE: Accepts invitation to Fourteenth Annual Nobel Dinner on January 11. [Telegram from A.G. Mezerik to LP December 10, 1957, Letter from LP to A.G. Mezerik December 12, 1957] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1958) #257.3] [Also filed under LP Speeches: 1958s.1]