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
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Copyright 2005
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.
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.
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
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
Box 1, Folder 4
"S. I. - Jan 48"
January 23 - November 18, 1948
"S. I. - Jan 48", January 23 - November 18, 1948
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
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
