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 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
Invitation to "wiskie twisty" RNA party
Box 2, Folder 13- 1954-Aug
Invitation to a "wiskie twisty" RNA party, written by James D. Watson (1928-), signed in the style of George Gamow (1904-1968). This party was for members of the RNA Tie Club, an informal scientific club founded by…
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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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6 items
Draft of letter to the editor of Scientific American written by Max Perutz, 1968
Box 13, Folder 28- 1968
Draft of a letter written by Max Perutz (1914-2002) and sent to the editor of Scientific American, regarding Andre Lwoff's (1902-1994) review of James D. Watson's (1928-) book The Double Helix.
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13M 17S
Haemoglobin Allestory: The Structural Pathway
Box 95, Folder 9- Undated
This silent film of 3-D, computer generated images of the hemoglobin (haemoglobin) molecule was presumably created by Max Perutz or his laboratory following his discovery of the structure of hemoglobin. It shows the…
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1H 4M 16S
Species Adaptation in the Hemoglobin Molecule
- A Seminar by Max Perutz
Box 96, Folder 4- 1985-Mar-20
In this lecture, Max Perutz explains several adaptive changes to the hemoglobin molecule across species, including how these changes manifest in an animal's anatomy or abilities. In particular he discusses the…
- Creator Of Work University of Chicago, Perutz, Max F.
- Subject Hemoglobin, Molecular biology, Amino acids, Perutz, Max F., Adaptation (Biology), Mutation (Biology)
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59M 44S
Molecular Pathology of Human Hemoglobin
- Lecture by Max Perutz
Box 95, Folder 12- 1973-Jun
At the inaugural Philip Wilcox Memorial Lecture at University of Washington, Max Perutz presents his research on the structure and function of hemoglobin, some mutations that can occur in the protein and their…
- Creator Of Work University of Washington, Perutz, Max F.
- Subject Hemoglobin, Molecular biology, Perutz, Max F., Adaptation (Biology), Mutation (Biology), Sickle cell anemia
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1H 46M 22S
Life: The Cosmic Imperative
- Ten Nobel Laureates Speak on Science and Society, Lecture Series III
Box 95, Folder 11- 1994-Nov-04
Part of the series of John C. Polanyi Chair Inaugural Lectures held at the University of Toronto in 1994. This lecture feature two speakers: Viscount Christian de Duve and Max Perutz.
Christian de Duve is a Belgian…
- Creator Of Work University of Toronto, Perutz, Max F., De Duve, Christian
- Subject Life--Origin, Evolution (Biology), Molecular biology, Hemoglobin, DNA, Genetics, Perutz, Max F., De Duve, Christian
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2 items
Letter from Francis Crick to John Kendrew, February 11, 1954
Box 1, Folder 9- 1954-Feb-11
Letter from Francis Crick (1916-2004) to John Kendrew (1917-1997) discussing scientific work.
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Letter from Aaron Klug to Maurice F. Wilkins, April 1, 1965
Box 28, Folder 13- 1965-Apr-01
Letter from Aaron Klug (1926-2018) to Maurice Wilkins (1916-2004), written April 1st, 1965.
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Letter from Maurice Wilkins to Aaron Klug, October 20, 1965
Box 28, Folder 13- 1965-Oct-20
Letter from Maurice Wilkins (1916-2004) to Aaron Klug (1926-2018), written October 20, 1965.
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Letter from Dennis Gabor to Aaron Klug, December 1, 1971
Box 25, Folder 18- 1971-Dec-01
Dennis Gabor (1900-1979) writes to Aaron Klug (1926-2018) about the work of Albert Crewe (1927-2009).
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Letter from Aaron Klug to Max Perutz, May 7, 1959
Box 25, Folder 18- 1959-May-07
Aaron Klug (1926-2018) tells Max Perutz (1914-2002) that an image of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) model will be sent to him.
- Author Klug, A. (Aaron), Sir, 1926-2018
- Addressee Perutz, Max F.
- Subject Perutz, Max F., Klug, A. (Aaron), Sir, 1926-2018, Tobacco mosaic virus
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2 items
Letter and proposal from Max Perutz to Aaron Klug, 1967
Box 25, Folder 18- 1967
Proposal to commission a portrait of Sir Harold Himsworth (1905-1993), Secretary of the Medical Research Council (MRC), along with a note from Max Perutz (1914-2002) to Aaron Klug (1926-2018).
- Author Perutz, Max F.
- Addressee Klug, A. (Aaron), Sir, 1926-2018
- Creator Of Work Medical Research Council (Great Britain)
- Subject Perutz, Max F., Klug, A. (Aaron), Sir, 1926-2018, Himsworth, Harold, 1905-1993, Medical Research Council (Great Britain)
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3 items
Letters from Max Perutz to Aaron Klug, October 5, 1960
Box 25, Folder 18- 1960-Oct-04 – 1960-Oct-06
Max Perutz (1914-2002) forwards a letter from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to Aaron Klug (1926-2018).
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Letter from Max Perutz to Sir Harold Himsworth, July 25, 1968
Box 13, Folder 27- 1968-Jul-25
- Addressee Himsworth, Harold, 1905-1993
- Author Perutz, Max F.
- Subject Perutz, Max F., Himsworth, Harold, 1905-1993, Randall, J. T. (John Turton)
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Letter from Max Perutz to Sir Harold Himsworth, July 11, 1968
Box 13, Folder 27- 1968-Jul-11
- Author Perutz, Max F.
- Addressee Himsworth, Harold, 1905-1993
- Subject Himsworth, Harold, 1905-1993, Perutz, Max F., Olby, Robert C. (Robert Cecil)
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Laboratory at Birkbeck College, 1958
Box 10, Folder 20- 1958
Black and white photograph of Rosalind Franklin's (1920–1958) laboratory at Birkbeck College, taken shortly after her death.
- Photographer Finch, John, 1930-2017
- Subject Laboratories, Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Birkbeck College
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Laboratory at Birkbeck College, 1958
Box 10, Folder 20- 1958
Black and white photograph of Rosalind Franklin's (1920–1958) laboratory at Birkbeck College, taken shortly after her death.
- Photographer Finch, John, 1930-2017
- Subject Laboratories, Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Birkbeck College
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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 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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2 items
Best Wishes from King's College
Box 13, Folder 24- Circa 1953
Possibly a goodbye card from when Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) left King's College in 1953.
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2 items
Letter from Rosalind Franklin to James D. Watson, February 10, 1956
Box 7, Folder 37- 1956-Feb-10
- Addressee Watson, James D., 1928-
- Author Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Watson, James D., 1928-, Birkbeck College
