Letter from Linus Pauling to Roland K. Robins. April 2, 1958. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 1 p.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Article: "Appeal of the USSR Supreme Soviet to the Parliaments of All Countries - On the Question of Terminating Nuclear Weapon Tests," Soviet News Bulletin. [Filed under LP Peace: (Materials re: Nuclear Testing, 1949-1961), Box #7.018, Folder #18.16]
• Check from AHP to Helene Bourhis for $8.75. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, December 1957-December 1959), Box #4.025, Folder #25.1]
• Check from AHP to Rudd Brown for Congress Committee for $25.00. [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]
• Check from AHP to Southern Conference Educational Fund for $25.00. [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]
• Itinerary [handwritten]: Quebec; Bertrand Russell Conference [Filed under LP Travel: Box #1.002, Folder #2.3]
• LP Notes to self RE: Writes about another "cerebral" experience and the circumstances of it. Says it wasn't like earlier ones. Handwritten note at bottom, "Another 16 May 1958. See end of 1958 diary." [Filed under LP Safe Contents: Drawer , Folder 2.006]
• Letter from Beatrice Wulf, Secretary to LP, to Leonard W. Mayo, Association for Aid of Crippled Children. RE: Informs him that LP is away from Pasadena until April 9th. Informs him where he can be reached. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1958) #257.3]
• Letter from Dr. Norman Birnbaum, Professor of Sociology, University of London, to LP RE: Describes a committee, with which he is involved, that is campaigning for disarmament. Mentions that the committee has had lengthy correspondence with the British Prime Minister and seeks similar American groups with which to form a partnership. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1958), #39.1]
• Letter from Ester Meiell, to LP. RE: Asks how many reprints of his article he would require. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1958) #257.3]
• Letter from Guy B. DeVall, to LP. RE: Informs him of a method of extracting toxins from the body. Asks for advice about where this information would be correctly received. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (D: Correspondence, 1958) #98.23]
• Letter from Herbert S. Rhinesmith, Allegheny College, to LP. RE: Thanks him for revising his paper. Discusses the areas that LP revised. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (R: Correspondence, 1955-1959) #341.4]
• Letter from James R. Sheehan, to LP. RE: Believes that now is the time to exert pressure for mutual cessation of atomic testing. Congratulates him on his strong stance on the issue. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Correspondence, 1958) #380.2]
• Letter from Jonathan C. Rice, KQED, Bay Area Educational Television, to LP RE: Delighted to hear that LP will be able to appear on a program on molecular diseases on the 16th. Requests an outline of LP's topic. Also wonders what type of set-up and props LP would prefer. [Telegram from LP to Rice March 28, 1958, Letter from LP to Rice April 10, 1958] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1958s.13]
• Letter from LP to C. Chester Stock, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. RE: Thanks him for his letter. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Correspondence, 1958) #380.2]
• Letter from LP to Roland K. Robins, New Mexico Highlands University. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (R: Correspondence, 1955-1959) #341. 4]

  2 April 1958

  Dr. Roland K. Robins

  Department of Chemistry

  New Mexico Highlands University

  Las Vegas, New Mexico

  Dear Dr. Robins:

  As part of the studies of the structure of nucleic acids that Professor Corey and I are directing, we have been making X-ray diffraction analyses of crystals of simple derivatives of purines and pyrimidines closely related to adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. We are especially interested in determining the structures of derivatives in which a simple organic group, preferably a methyl group, is substituted at the position normally occupied by the ribose ring in naturally occurring polynucleotides.

  We have obtained a small quantity of 3-methylthymine and a determination of its structure is already in progress. I wrote recently to Dr. C. P. Rhoads at the Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases inquiring about possible sources of 9-methyladenine, 9-methylguanine, and 3-methylcytosine. Dr. George B. Brown of the Sloan-Kettering Institute sent us a small sample of 9-methyladenine which, I believe, will be adequate for our X-ray work. I also received a letter from Dr. C. Chester Stock of that Institute stating that you had supplied them with a specimen of 9-methylguanine and suggesting that you might have some of the material which you would be willing to spare us for our work.

  I am writing to ask if you do, indeed, have any 9-methylguanine on hand that you could spare, or if you could suggest a reliable source of this material. For the investigations that we have in mind we shall probably need about 1 gram, but even a smaller amount would be helpful.

  I shall be grateful for whatever information or other assistance you can give us.

  Sincerely yours,

  Linus Pauling:k

• Letter from Mary L. Nelson to LP, RE: Wants to visit the California Institute of Technology laboratories, specifically facilities for growing plants. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (N: Correspondence, 1957-1964) #288.2]
• Letter from Mrs. K.S. Kaminski, Secretary to Dr. Cope to Miss Mary E. Mattingly, Office of the Home Secretary RE: Informs Mattingly that Beatrice Wulf has written to Dr. Cope asking for who took the picture of Dr. Noyes used in LP's biographical memoir. Kaminski gives the name of S. Seymour Thomas as the artist. [Filed under LP Science: (National Academy of Sciences, 1955-1969), Box #14.021, Folder #21.2]
• Letter from Pat Martin, Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, to LP. RE: Asks if any reports are available on the work he has done with mental deficiencies. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1958) #257.3]
• Letter from Ralph M. Blagden, Associate Editor of The Sacramento Bee, to LP RE: Discusses LP's appearance before the California Legislature and several statistics quoted from the presentation. Describes his difficulty in establishing the true facts on the matter of fallout because of the heated debate. Asks for additional information as he researches the subject. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1958), #39.1]
• Letter from Rose V. Russell, Legislative Representative, New York Teachers Union, to LP RE: The Edward R. Murrow program on radioactivity on was very exciting. Requests some biographical data and a copy of LP's speech. Would like to arrange a press conference for LP at the Hotel Biltmore. Will reserve a room for LP and AHP at the Biltmore. [Letter from Wulf to Russell April 1, 1958, Letter from LP to Russell July 25, 1958] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1958s.14]
• Note from Joy Bliss to LP RE: States she will be presenting a project of the state science fair in North Dakota in which she will have a poster for each of the 102 elements showing the electrons and the energy levels. Asks if LP has any information on the elements 96-102 since she doesn't have much information about these elements. [Letter from LP to Miss Joy Bliss, April 10, 1958] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1958), #39.1]