April 19, 1941
CONFIDENTIAL
Dr. Harris M. Chadwell
National Defense Research Committee
1530 P Street NW
Washington, D.C.
Dear Dr. Chadwell:
The illness from which I am suffering is glomerlular nephritis. My treatment consists in rest and adherence to a rigid
diet, but I am able to do my work at the laboratory and presumably will recover in some months or a year or two. At present
it seems best for me not to take a trip to Washington; I am, however, hoping to spend most of the month of July in Chicago,
and at that time I could come ot Washington for a few days if this were desired. Would you please tell Dr. Conant what the
situation is.
I suggest that to the extent that arrangements can be made by correspondence you continue to write to me regarding the
oxygen instrument project. Two of the completed instruments have been sent ot Dr. Lewis, and two more will be ready before
long.
Having received permission to call upon Professor James H. Sturdivant in connection with the work to the extent that
this was necessary, I have come to make a great use of him. Professor Sturdivant, an American-borne citizen who took his Ph.D.
with me in 1930 and has continued as a member of our department since then, is a very gifted man, with ability in the field
of instrumental design as well as along general scientific lines. He has designed all of our x-ray apparatus built in recent
years. In addition he is in charge of the chemistry department instrument shop here. Dr. Sturdivant is thoroughly familiar
with the details of construction and
[2]
operation of the oxygen instrument, and would be the best possible man with whom to discuss the possibilities of application
of the instrument in various ways and of its special design for special purposes. I recommend strongly that, if it seems wise
to you, Dr. Sturdivant be brought to Washington for a thorough discussion of the steps to be taken regarding construction
and use of the instrument in the future. I recommend accordingly that Dr. Sturdivant be made a Section Member of the Committee.
His vital data follow:
Full name James Holmes Sturdivant
Home address Athenaeum, 551 South Hill Avenue Pasadena
Business address California Institute of Technology Pasadena
Date and place of birth June 22, 1906, Greenville, Texas
Education B.A., University of Texas, 1926
M.A., 1927; Ph.D., California Institute, 1930.
Previous positions Instructor in Mathematics, University of Texas, 1926-27;
Teaching Fellow, California Institute, 1927-1930
Research Fellow, 1930-1935;
Senior Fellow in Research, 1935-1938.
Present position Assistant Professor, California Institute, 1938-
I have full confidence in his loyalty to the United States. I have known Professor Sturdivant intimately for fourteen years.
Sincerely yours,
Linus Pauling
LP:jr
