Letter from Linus Pauling to J.E.H. Hancock. January 21, 1958. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 1 p.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Check from AHP to Norman Brooks for $20.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, December 1957-December 1959), Box #4.025, Folder #25.1] [Also filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Check Registers, 1957-1962), Box #4.076, Folder #76.2]
• Letter (handwritten) from Jehle, Herbert, University of Nebr., to Ruth Hughes. RE: Asks for copies of a release. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Jehle, Herbert) #189.3]
• Letter form Martin A. Watkins, World Wide Imports, to LP. RE: Thinks that atomic fallout is responsible for the low germination of seed in North Carolina. Encloses an article from the Agricultural Review. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (W: Correspondence, 1958) #444.6]
• Letter from Andras Tardos, Radio Budapest, to LP. RE: Has received many suggestions that they set up an "International Peace Club." Informs him that each member must be doing something for the great common cause of all humanity, the maintenance of peace. Asks him to give a statement on what the ordinary man can do to help maintain peace. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (T: Correspondence, 1958) #411.3]
• Letter from Dorothy G. Bernard, Manhattan Beach Branch, American Association of University Women, to LP RE: States that she heard LP speak at the Southern California Phi Beta Kappa annual meeting and was much impressed. Asks if LP would give a talk for the Manhattan Beach Branch AAUW Programs and what the fee would be. Suggests some possible topics. [Letter from LP to Bernard, January 28, 1958] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1958), #39.1]
• Letter from Felix Haurowitz, Indiana University, to LP. RE: Invites him to lecture in their Colloquium Committee. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Haurowitz, Felix) #152.7]
• Letter from Gross W. Alexander, Retired Minister, The Methodist Church, to LP RE: Asks LP to forward him five copies of "An End to Nuclear Tests." Congratulates LP on his work and leadership in the matter of outlawing war. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (A: Correspondence, 1958), #13.1]
• Letter from John A. Hannum, Hefco Laboratories, to Samuel M. Brownell, Detroit Board of Education. RE: Discusses the education system and necessary changes. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (H: Correspondence, 1958) #167.3]
• Letter from LP to Dennis Flanagan, Editor, Scientific American. RE: Complains about the magazine. Points out the difference between power and force. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Scientific American, 1948-1995) #374.9]
• Letter from LP to Dr. Bovet RE: Discusses the petition to stop bomb tests and the number of signatures received, where they were from and such. Briefly mentions passport difficulties, and invites Dr. Bovet to visit Pasadena and give a talk at CalTech. Says he hopes he would take Mrs. Bovet with him if he did come give a talk. [Filed under LP Safe Contents: Drawer , Folder 2.001]
• Letter from LP to J. E. H. Hancock. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (H: Correspondence, 1958) #167.3]

  21 January 1958

  Dear Professor Hancock:

  I am writing in answer to your letter of 13 January to my wife and me.

  There is no need for you to tell us what you plan to do with the small sum of money that we have made available for support of your research. I am, however, as you no doubt know, interested in everything that is going on in science, and so I am glad to have you tell me what you are thinking about doing on the biosynthesis of prodigiosin.

  Also, I am interested to learn that you have been thinking of trying to synthesize a C₂₂H₂₂ hydrocarbon, which you sketch in your letter. It would be interesting indeed to see what you get out of this attempt.

  Has anyone tried to make the C₂₄H₂₄ hydrocarbon that is somewhat similar, but that has the two six-membered rings opposed in the cage, instead of connected by a single bond?

  Also, has anyone tried to make the compound C₃₀H₃₀ that we might call dodecahedrane - that is, with carbon atoms at the corners of a regular pentagonal dodecahedron, which has the point-group symmetry of the icosahedral class?

  One difficulty about all of these cage molecules involving five-membered rings is that the azimuthal orientation around the carbon-carbon bonds is the unfavorable one, which introduces about 3kcal/mole per bond. That is, for your structure it would introduce about 99 kcal/mole instability. Perhaps some large cage molecule could be devised with the favorable azimuthal orientation; its synthesis would be easier.

  Sincerely yours,

  Linus Pauling:w

  Professor J.E.H. Hancock

  Reed College

  Portland, Oregon

• Letter from LP to Paul Delahay, Louisiana State University. RE: Informs him that CIT would be pleased to have Dr. Schögl give a lecture. Informs him that they could pay an $100 honorarium. Suggests that the date be picked soon. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (D: Correspondence, 1958) #98.23]
• Letter from Moritz Michaelis, University of Maryland, to LP. RE: Recommends Dr. J. H. Quastel as a Nobel Prize candidate. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1958) #257.3]
• Letter from Professor D.P. Craig, Chemistry Dept., University College London, to LP RE: Has not yet heard from LP regarding the Kekule Symposium. Encloses copy of his first letter inviting LP to deliver the opening lecture. [Letter from Craig to LP December 17, 1957] [Telegram from Craig to LP March 11, 1958] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1958s2.4]
• Letter from Tage Kemp to LP RE: Encloses the signatures collected from Danish scientists, and explains that more may be collected in the coming weeks and those will be forwarded to LP. Discusses the signers. Handwritten notes at top right, "48- not comm. sigs." and "49." [Filed under LP Safe Contents, Drawer 3 Folder 3.004]
• Letter from William Berman, S. J. Tilden H. S., and Henry Pollet, Grover Cleveland H. S., to LP RE: Explains the difficulties in cultivating students who are interested in scientific research. States that they are working to develop material to help superior high school students prepare for a future in scientific experimentation. Asks LP to respond to questions on a questionnaire that would help them develop the materials. [Letter from LP to Berman, February 10, 1958] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1958), #39.1]