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Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick Research Files

Finding aid prepared by Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, California, 92093-0175 858-534-2533 [email protected] Copyright 2005

Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick MSS 0196 1 Research Files Descriptive Summary Title: Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick Research Files Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0196 Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, California, 92093-0175 Languages: English Physical Description: 0.4 Linear feet(1 archives box) Date (inclusive): 1948 - 1969 Abstract: Laboratory notebooks (1948-1953) of Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick. Szilard, a nuclear physicist, biologist and advocate of global arms control, held an appointment (1948-1955) as a professor of biophysics at the Institute of Radiology and Biophysics, University of Chicago, and, with Aaron Novick, he studied bacteria using a device called the chemostat. The materials also include correspondence (1948-1964) between Szilard and Novick and photographs. Creator: Novick, Aaron, 1919-2000 Creator: Szilard, Leo Digital Content Materials from this collection have been digitized with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) and can be viewed through links in the container list, or by clicking the link below. Items available online Related Materials Leo Szilard Papers, MSS 32. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library. Scope and Content of Collection The Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick Research Files document experiments on bacterial populations performed jointly by Szilard and Novick at the Institute of Radiobiology and Biophysics, University of Chicago. The materials are arranged in three series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) LABORATORY NOTEBOOKS and 3) PHOTOGRAPHS. SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE The CORRESPONDENCE series contains letters (1948-1964) between Szilard and Novick about the results of experiments using the chemostat, the reorganization of the Institute of Radiobiology and Biophysics, patents, research projects, and Szilard's interest in nuclear arms control. In addition, there are occasional letters about Szilard and enclosures of Szilard's writings and reports filed with the correspondence. The materials are arranged chronologically. The CORRESPONDENCE series also documents a series of meetings (1949-1950) Szilard arranged in the Chicago area to present and discuss research on the genetics and physiology of bacteria and viruses. Meeting participants included S. E. Luria, Joshua Lederberg, S. Spiegelman, A. D. Hershey, and James Watson. Novick coordinated travel arrangements and administrative housekeeping for the meetings. The materials are arranged chronologically. SERIES 2: LABORATORY NOTEBOOKS The LABORATORY NOTEBOOKS series contains seven bound notebooks (1948-1953) for experiments on bacterial populations using the chemostat. SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS The PHOTOGRAPHS series contains images of the chemostat and a program from the Lactose Operon Meeting with Szilard's photograph on the cover. Historical Background Leo Szilard held a halftime appointment (1948-1952) as professor of biophysics at the Institute of Radiobiology and Biophysics, University of Chicago. Aaron Novick participated in the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago (1943-1946) and later worked as an assistant professor of biophysics (1948-1955) at the Institute. Together they studied bacterial and viral populations under controlled physical and chemical conditions using a device called the chemostat. Novick was interested in the study of mutations and adaptive enzyme formation. Between November 1949 and June 1950, Szilard arranged a series of meetings of researchers in the Midwest to present research on the genetics and physiology of bacteria and viruses. The participants included S. E. Luria, Joshua Lederberg, A. D. Hershey, S. Spiegelman, and James Watson. The meetings focused on pioneering research which formed the basis of early molecular biology.

Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick MSS 0196 2 Research Files In 1954, the Institute of Radiobiology and Biophysics was dissolved and a joint department of Biophysics and Biochemistry was established. During the reorganization process, Szilard took a leave of absence and accepted a visiting professorship at Brandeis University. Novick left for the Biological Laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor, and later he accepted a position at the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Novick and Szilard continued to correspond until Szilard's death in 1964. Publication Rights Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection. Preferred Citation Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick Research Files, MSS 196. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego. Acquisition Information Acquired 1991. Subjects and Indexing Terms Novick, Aaron, 1919-2000 -- Archives Novick, Aaron, 1919-2000 -- Correspondence Szilard, Leo -- Archives Szilard, Leo -- Correspondence University of Chicago. Institute of Radiobiology and Biophysics. Bacteria Bacteria -- Morphology Bacteria -- Physiology Bacteria -- Reproduction Bacteria -- Research -- History Bacterial genetics Biochemistry -- Instruments Chemostat Microbiology -- Instruments Scientific apparatus and instruments Viral genetics Viruses Viruses -- Morphology Viruses -- Physiology Viruses -- Reproduction Viruses -- Research -- History

CORRESPONDENCE

Box 1, Folder 1 Szilard / Novick 1948 - 1954 Szilard / Novick, 1948 - 1954 Box 1, Folder 2 Szilard / Novick 1956 - 1964 Szilard / Novick, 1956 - 1964 Box 1, Folder 3 Chicago Special Virus Seminar 1949 - 1950 General note Correspondence related to the planning of the seminar.

Chicago Special Virus Seminar, 1949 - 1950 LABORATORY NOTEBOOKS

Box 1, Folder 4 "S. I. - Jan 48" January 23 - November 18, 1948 "S. I. - Jan 48", January 23 - November 18, 1948

Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick MSS 0196 3 Research Files LABORATORY NOTEBOOKS

Box 1, Folder 5 "Szilard II" November 18, 1948 - April 5, 1949 General note Includes diagrams and sketches for the Chemostat.

"Szilard II", November 18, 1948 - April 5, 1949 Box 1, Folder 6 "Szilard III" April 5 - June 9, 1949 "Szilard III", April 5 - June 9, 1949 Box 1, Folder 7 "Novick (Beckmann)" July 14, 1950 - June 3, 1951 General note Includes entries by Novick and Szilard.

"Novick (Beckmann)", July 14, 1950 - June 3, 1951 Box 1, Folder 8 "Szilard - 1951 - Febr.-June" General note Contains a single entry for 1 March 1951.

"Szilard - 1951 - Febr.-June" Box 1, Folder 9 "Novick - October 1951" October 6, 1951 - December 29, 1951 General note Contains entries by Novick and Szilard.

"Novick - October 1951", October 6, 1951 - December 29, 1951 Box 1, Folder 10 "Jan 52" January 3, 1952 - June 18, 1953 "Jan 52", January 3, 1952 - June 18, 1953 PHOTOGRAPHS

Box 1, Folder 11 Chemostat Chemostat diagram Chemostat - black background Chemostat - white background Box 1, Folder 12 Lactose Operon Meeting - Cold Spring Harbor, New York 1969 General note Abstracts of papers (Novick's copy). Photograph of Leo Szilard on cover.

Lactose Operon Meeting - Cold Spring Harbor, New York, 1969

Leo Szilard and Aaron Novick MSS 0196 4 Research Files