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The Donald A. Glaser Papers, 1943-2013, Bulk 1949-2003 http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8n01cbt No online items Finding Aid for the Donald A. Glaser Papers, 1943-2013, bulk 1949-2003 Bianca Rios and Mariella Soprano California Institute of Technology. Caltech Archives ©2017 1200 East California Blvd. Mail Code B215A-74 Pasadena, CA 91125 [email protected] URL: http://archives.caltech.edu/ Finding Aid for the Donald A. 10285-MS 1 Glaser Papers, 1943-2013, bulk 1949-2003 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: California Institute of Technology. Caltech Archives Title: The Donald A. Glaser papers creator: Glaser, Donald Arthur Identifier/Call Number: 10285-MS Physical Description: 15.97 Linear feet (41 boxes) Date (inclusive): 1918-2016, bulk 1949-2003 Abstract: Donald Arthur Glaser (1926 – 2013) earned his PhD in Physics and Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1950 and won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of the bubble chamber. He then changed his research focus to molecular biology and went on to co-found Cetus Corporation, the first biotechnology company. In the 1980s he again switched his focus to neurobiology and the visual system. The Donald A. Glaser papers consist of research notes and notebooks, manuscripts and printed papers, correspondence, awards, biographical material, photographs, audio-visual material, and born-digital files. Conditions Governing Access The collection is open for research. Researchers must apply in writing for access. General The collection is fully digitized and will be made available online by the beginning of 2018. Conditions Governing Use Copyright may not have been assigned to the California Institute of Technology Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Caltech Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the California Institute of Technology Archives as the owner of the physical items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise,is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Donald A. Glaser papers, 10285-MS, Caltech Archives, California Institute of Technology. Immediate Source of Acquisition The Donald A. Glaser papers were generously gifted to the Caltech Archives by Lynn Glaser in 2015. Processing Information This collection was processed by Kristen Abraham, Bianca Rios, and Mariella Soprano. Processing began in 2015 and was completed in 2017. Biographical / Historical Donald Arthur Glaser was born on September 21, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the Case School of Applied Science in 1946, and a PhD in Physics and Mathematics in 1950 from the California Institute of Technology where Nobel Laureate Carl Anderson was his advisor. He joined the faculty at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1949 where his interest in elementary particles led to the invention of the bubble chamber in 1953. Glaser moved to UC Berkeley in 1959 and in 1960, at the age of 34, won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Shortly after he moved to Berkeley, his research shifted to automated experimentation in molecular and cell biology. He worked in UC Berkeley's Virus Lab, conducting experiments with bacteria and bacterial viruses called phages and mammalian cells. He designed automated equipment that made it easier to grow these cells and to study how they grow, repair themselves, and reproduce. His work in this area led to cofounding one of the first biotechnology companies and eventually to Cetus Corporation. Glaser shifted his research interests toward neuroscience and the visual system by 1981 and continued work in this field into the 2000s. Glaser passed away on February 28, 2013. Scope and Contents The collection is organized as follows: Series 1. Biographical and Personal Series 2. Education Series 3. University of Michigan Series 4. University of California at Berkeley Series 5. Bubble Chamber Series 6. Molecular Biology Series 7. Neuroscience Series 8. Audio-Visual Series 1: Biographical and Personal Material is divided into ten subseries that cover a range of personal and general public items: Subseries 1: Family material. Subseries 2: Journal entries and notes revealing Glaser's personal thoughts on work and life. Subseries 3: Job search and appointments. Subseries 4: Biographical write ups and interviews. Subseries 5: Correspondence. Subseries 6: Nobel Prize containing the bulk of Glaser's Nobel Prize material, including reception items and ephemera, clippings, and photographs from his 1960 trip. Nobel events occurring after 1960 are also represented. Subseries 7: Other awards and honors containing certificates issued by other distinguished institutions. Subseries 8: Finding Aid for the Donald A. 10285-MS 2 Glaser Papers, 1943-2013, bulk 1949-2003 Photographs spanning from the 1910s to the 2000s, including personal and professional images. Subseries 9: Miscellaneous material containing general publications and talks, event ephemera, symphony patent documents, and sheet music. Subseries 10: Oversize material containing a 1960 Time-Life Nobel photo album, blueprints and photographs, a fellow certificate from the AAAS, and sheet music. Series 2: Education consists of two subseries: Subseries 1: Case Institute of Technology. Subseries 2: California Institute of Technology. Series 3: University of Michigan includes three subseries from 1953 to 1960. The first subseries includes administrative material. Subseries 2 is a collection of high energy physics research. Subseries 3 contains student dissertations organized alphabetically by author. Series 4: University of California at Berkeley contains two subseries that extends from 1958 to 2006. The first subseries is administrative material. The second subseries contains student dissertations organized alphabetically by author. Series 5: Bubble Chamber is divided into five subseries starting in 1949 and ending in 1994. Subseries 1 consists of notebooks with research spanning before and after the invention of the bubble chamber. Subseries 2 contains undated reference notecards and loose leaf notes. Subseries 3 contains publications on the bubble chamber, written by others as well as Glaser. Subseries 4 contains material related to the 40th anniversary conference on the bubble chamber. Subseries 5 consists of miscellaneous material, including bubble chamber photos, correspondence, and bubble chamber-inspired lyrics. Series 6: Molecular Biology extends from 1963 to 2005. Glaser's work during this period also included research in microbiology and theoretical biology and lead to the designs of the Cyclops, an automatic cell inoculator, and well as the Dumbwaiter, an automated system for the growth and analysis of large numbers of bacterial colonies. There are seven subseries: Subseries 1: Notes, lectures, and talks. Subseries 2: Publications by others. Subseries 3: Publications by Glaser. Subseries 4: Patents, proposals, and reports. Subseries 5: Biotechnology. Subseries 6: Miscellaneous. Subseries 7: Oversize material. Series 7: Neuroscience consists of four subseries and covers Glaser's work from the 1980s into the 2000s. Subseries 1 includes notes organized by subject. Subseries 2 features writings and talks relating to his vision research. Subseries 3 includes research and administrative material. Subseries 4 contains born-digital material, the majority of which consists of animated images used for visual experiments. Series 8: Audio-Visual spans from 1949 to 2006 and is arranged by media type. The series contains four subseries: Subseries 1: Photographic glass slides. Subseries 2: 35mm slides. Subseries 3: Photographic negatives. Subseries 4: Audio. Subseries 5: Film and video. Subjects and Indexing Terms Physics Bubble Chambers Nobel Prize winners Molecular biology Neuroscience Manuscript Collection Series 1: Biographical and Personal Subseries 1: Family material 1943–2007 Box 1.1, Folder 1 Cleveland Heights High School 1943–1983 Scope and Contents Correspondence, grades, alumni material Box 1.1, Folder 2 Louise and William Glaser items 1973, 1989 1989 Scope and Contents Children's achievements Finding Aid for the Donald A. 10285-MS 3 Glaser Papers, 1943-2013, bulk 1949-2003 Series 1: Biographical and Personal Subseries 1: Family material 1943–2007 Box 1.1, Folder 3 Glaser family tree and reunion material 1990–2003 Scope and Contents CD included Box 1.1, Folder 4 Letter for sister Evie's memorial 2007 Subseries 2: Journal entries and notes 1950s-1981 Box 1.1, Folder 5 European travelogues ca. 1950s Scope and Contents Two notebooks from 1952 or 1958 Box 1.1, Folder 6 Journal entries and schedules 1958, 1964, 1969 1964 1969 Box 1.1, Folder 7 MIT notebook I 1961–1962 Box 1.1, Folder 8 MIT notebook II 1962 Box 1.1, Folder 9 Notes, messages, and to-do lists 1974-1996, 2003-2004 2003–2004 Box 1.1, Folder 10 Journal entries - Scientific interests 1979–1981 Scope and Contents Related to theoretical biology Subseries 3: Job search and appointments 1956–1962 Box 1.1, Folder 11 Offers and correspondence 1956–1961 Box 1.1, Folder 12 MIT - Visiting professorship correspondence 1961 April 18–1962 May 22 Subseries 4: Biographical write ups and interviews 1975–2007 Box 1.1, Folder 13 IBM Vail Conference biographical statement 1975 Box 1.1, Folder 14 Charlan Nemeth interviews with Glaser for unpublished book 1990–2012 Scope and Contents Interviews conducted 1993 Conditions Governing Access Closed file Box 1.1, Folder 15 Eric
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