The History of Molecular Biology Collection spans 51 linear feet and documents key milestones in the development of molecular biology, including the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. The collection features materials from prominent scientists such as Rosalind Franklin, Sydney Brenner, Francis Crick, James Watson, Max Delbrück, Aaron Klug, Linus and Peter Pauling, Max Perutz, and Maurice Wilkins, among others. These materials illuminate the relationships, dynamics, and contributions of these individuals to the discovery of DNA’s structure. They also provide historical context for related discoveries involving RNA, various viruses, and biologically important proteins.
A portion of the collection has been digitized and is available online.
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin and Jenifer Franklin
Box 10, Folder 13- Circa 1930
Black and white photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) and her younger sister Jenifer Franklin.
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
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4 items
Vacuum desiccator belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- After 1940 – before 1958
Glass chamber for dehydrating samples over a desiccant chemical. Desiccant crystals remain in the bottom lobe of the device. A valve on the side of the upper lobe allows a vacuum to be attached. After being used by…
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83 items
Sven Furberg's notebook, June 1947-1950
Box 12, Folder 32- 1947-Jun – 1950
Laboratory notebook belonging to Sven Furberg (1920-1983). Furberg was a chemist and crystallographer who first proposed a helical structure for DNA in 1948. The original paper models of DNA are shown in the back of…
- Creator Of Work Furberg, Sven, 1920-1983
- Subject Birkbeck College, Furberg, Sven, 1920-1983, Laboratory notebooks, DNA
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2 items
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2 items
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2 items
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6 items
44/54 Darmstadt logarithmic slide rule belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- 1950s
Wooden slide rule belonging to molecular biologist, Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), used to calculate logarithmic functions.
Frankin's initials, R. E. F., are written on the right-hand side of the rule.
- Manufacturer Faber-Castell (Firm)
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Slide-rule, Logarithms, Logarithmic functions, Molecular biology
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Draft of a letter written by Rosalind Franklin
Box 7, Folder 6- 1950s
- Creator Of Work Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Women in science
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3 items
Draft of a letter written by Rosalind Franklin
Box 7, Folder 6- 1950s
- Creator Of Work Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Women in science
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6 items
File box belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- 1950s
File box belonging to Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958). The box is labeled "REF Reprints. DNA Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, 21. Misc. Nos 32 (no copies) Faraday Soc."
The file box has a gray-blue fabric spine with a leather pull.…
- Manufacturer Philip Poole & Co., Ltd.
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Office equipment and supplies, DNA
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2 items
Letter from Rosalind Franklin to Aaron Klug, July 30, 1956
Box 7, Folder 25- 1950s
Letter from Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) to Aaron Klug (1926-2018) discussing the Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus.
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin in Italy
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation in , Italy. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950. Poster behind Franklin says…
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on a mountain range
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on vacation
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on vacation
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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2 items
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on vacation
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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2 items
Photographs of Rosalind Franklin in Tuscany, Italy, 1950.
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation in Tuscany, Italy. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin sitting at a table
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950-Jul
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photostat image of DNA X-ray diffraction image by Elwyn Beighton (1951)
Box 10, Folder 17- 1951
Photostat (early photocopy) reproduction of an X-ray diffraction image of DNA. The original image was taken in 1951 at the University of Leeds, UK by Elwyn Beighton under the supervision of William Astbury (1898-1961).…
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189 items
Raymond G. Gosling's laboratory notebook, circa 1951-1953
Box 13, Folder 32- Circa 1951 – circa 1953
Notebook belonging to Raymond G. Gosling (1926-2015) documenting work done in collaboration with Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958).
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4 items
Letter from P. Beaudouin to Rosalind Franklin, February 16, 1951
Box 7, Folder 6- 1951-Feb-16
- Addressee Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Author Beaudouin, P.
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Women in science
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4 items
Letter from P. Beaudouin to Rosalind Franklin, March 2, 1951
Box 7, Folder 6- 1951-Mar-02
- Addressee Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Author Beaudouin, P.
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Women in science
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Delegates at the Second Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography
Box 83, Folder 7- 1951-Jun
Black and white photograph of delegates at the Second Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), Stockholm, Sweden, 27 June - 3 July 1951. The photograph was taken outside the…
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3 items
Cellulose acetate sheet-film negative of Photo 51 shown alongside the A-form DNA diffraction image
Box 10, Folder 16- Circa 1952
Rectangular piece of acetate film containing negative images of two X-ray diffraction patterns of DNA. Both images were created by Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) and Raymond Gosling (1926-2015) at King’s College London…
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Envelope labeled "Negative for Slide. Prints of D.N.A. Structure 'B' Best Photographs"
Box 10, Folder 17- 1952
- Creator Of Work Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Subject DNA, DNA--Structure, Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Gosling, R. G. (Raymond George), 1926-2015, Chemists, Women chemists
