Finding Aid to the Harold E. Varmus Papers, 1971-1987, bulk 1974-1980
Finding Aid written by Nancy W. Zinn, Valerie Wheat and Josué Hurtado
UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management, Archives and Special Collections
University of California, San Francisco
530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840
Phone: (415) 476-8112
Fax: (415) 476-4653
Email: http://www.library.ucsf.edu/collres/archives/contactform.html
URL: http://www.library.ucsf.edu/collres/archives/
© 2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Harold E. Varmus Papers, 1971-1987, bulk 1974-1980
Collection Number: MSS 84-25
UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management, Archives and Special Collections
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Nancy W. Zinn, Valerie Wheat and Josué Hurtado
- Date Completed:
-
January 2007
© 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Harold E. Varmus Papers
Date (inclusive): 1971-1987,
Date (bulk): bulk 1974-1980
Collection Number: MSS 84-25
Creator:
Varmus, Harold
Extent:
Number of containers: 8 cartons, 2 boxes
Linear feet: 11 feet
Repository: The UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management, Archives and Special Collections
University of California, San Francisco
530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840
Phone: (415) 476-8112
Fax: (415) 476-4653
Email: http://www.library.ucsf.edu/collres/archives/contactform.html
URL: http://www.library.ucsf.edu/collres/archives/
Abstract: This collection consists mainly of files of research and data compiled by Dr. Harold Varmus and his group at UCSF from 1971-1984.
Primary areas of inquiry are synthesis and integration of viral DNA, and replication of, and tumor induction by, animal viruses,
including the Rous Sarcoma Virus. It is rich in illustrative material such as photographs, slides, graphs, and gels. Also
included is correspondence with colleagues and former students during Varmus' 1978-1979 sabbatical in London. Most letters
concern research progress, review of manuscripts and publications, and invitations or preparations for conferences and meetings.
Varmus was active in American Cancer Society (ACS) grant review and the Virology Study section of NIH. There are a number
of notes and slide materials for lectures and talks both in the U.S. and internationally.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog:
http://www.library.ucsf.edu/ .
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research; some correspondence files are restricted.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manager of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of the UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management as the owner of the physical items
and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Harold E. Varmus Papers, MSS 84-25, The UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management, Archives
and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.
Alternate Forms Available
Related Collections
Harold E. Varmus Papers, 1975-1987 (MSS 88-47) and 1967-1993 (MSS 93-51)
Separated Material
None
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Varmus, Harold
Human Retrovirus Study Group
AIDS (Disease)
Nobel prizes
Oncogenes
Virologists--California--San Francisco
Virology--Research--California--San Francisco
Retroviruses
Cancer cells
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The Harold E. Varmus Papers were donated to UCSF by Dr. Varmus in 1984.
Processing Information
Processed by Nancy W. Zinn and Valerie Wheat
Biographical Information
Born in Oceanside, New York, December 18, 1939, Harold E. Varmus received his undergraduate degree (B.A. magna cum laude)
from Amherst College in 1961, an M.A. (in literature) the following year from Harvard University, and the M.D. from Columbia
University in 1966. From 1967 to 1970 Varmus was an intern in medicine (1966-67) and Assistant Resident in Medicine (1967-68)
at Presbyterian Hospital, New York, and Clinical Associate at the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases,
Bethesda, MD (1968-70). In 1970 he was appointed a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer in the Department of Microbiology at
UCSF, for 1970-72. At the end of this period Dr. Varmus was appointed Assistant Professor in Residence, for 1972-74, Associate
Professor (1974-79), and full Professor, 1979-1993, in that department. He was on the faculty of the Molecular Medicine group
in the Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS) consortium.
In conjunction with J. Michael Bishop, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1989 for their discovery
of the cellular origin of retroviral oncogenes. They also received the Alfred P. Sloan Prize from the General Motors Cancer
Research Foundation in 1984. Other research colleagues on the faculty at UCSF included Y.W. Kan (hemoglobinopathies), Gordon
Tomkins and Keith Yamamoto (glucocorticoid action), and Donald Ganem (hepatitis B viruses). In 1985 Dr. Varmus was selected
to give the Annual Faculty Research Lecture at UCSF entitled "Tree-Shaking and Jelly-Making: Growing Up with Retroviruses."
In 1993, he was appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health where he instituted administrative and personnel reforms,
changed the peer review system, created the online publications archive E-biomed, and dealt with political issues such as
human embryo research. He resigned in 1999 to become Director of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and
was named President of that institution in 2000. In 2002, Varmus was named a recipient of the 2001 National Medal of Science
and recognized at a ceremony at the White House with President George W. Bush.
Varmus is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American
Society for Microbiology. He was elected to the National Academy of Science in 1984 and to the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences in 1988. Among his honors are the following: Woodrow Wilson Fellow (1961-62); International Fellow of Columbia University
(1963-64); Smith, Kline, and French Foreign Fellow (Bareilly, India) in 1961; Senior Dernham Fellow, California Division,
American Cancer Society (1970-72); USPHS Research Career Development Awardee, 1972-77; Josiah Macy Scholar (Imperial Cancer
Research Fund, London, 1978-79); California scientist of the Year, 1982; Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, 1982;
Passano Foundation Award, 1983; Armand Hammer Cancer Prize, 1984; Gairdner Foundation International Award, 1984; and the American
College of Physicians Award, 1987. He received an honorary degree from Amherst College in 1985 and the Alumni Gold Medal
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1989.
Dr. Varmus served as associate editor of
Cell and Virology (1974-84), and as a member of various working groups and study sections at the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes
of Health. From 1981-1986, Varmus chaired the Retrovirus Study Group within the Vertebrate Virus Subcommitee of the International
Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. In this role he convened a subcommittee to investigate proposed nomenclature of AIDS-associated
viruses in humans. He has co-authored more than 300 scientific papers and four books, including
Genes and the Biology of Cancer for a general audience.
System of Arrangement
Arranged to the folder level.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection documents research and other professional activities of Dr. Harold Varmus while on the faculty of UCSF. In
comparison to the two related collections of Varmus papers, evidence of day-to-day research makes up the bulk of the material.
Files in Series 3 contain very detailed data, charts and graphs, photographs, slides, and gels on experiments performed by
Varmus and his group to investigate mouse mammary tumor virus, viral DNA, and avian retroviruses. There are also course syllabi,
notes, and lecture slides for special topics such as cancer causation and RNA tumor viruses. Grant review correspondence
and financial files cover projects funded by the American Cancer Society and National Institutes of Health. Some of these
were joint projects on Rous Sarcoma Virus with Dr. J. Michael Bishop who later shared the Nobel Prize with Varmus.
Correspondence files concern journal articles and manuscripts, plans for sabbatical and conference attendance, and departmental
matters. Some of these correspondence files are restricted. In the conference and meeting folders are conference agendas
and programs, steno notebooks of handwritten notes taken there, and text and slides for presentations by Varmus on mapping
tumor virus genes and animal viruses.
The Collection is divided into 4 Series. I. Correspondence; II. Grant Records and Research Agencies; III. Research; IV. Conferences
and Meetings.
Series 1
CORRESPONDENCE
1971-1984
Physical Description:
58 Folders : Carton 1 Folders 1/1-1/22 ; Carton 2 Folders 2/1-2/17 ; Box 9 Folders 9/1-9/11 ; Box 10 Folders 10/1-10/8
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence files concern journal articles and manuscripts, plans for sabbatical and conference attendance, and departmental
matters. Some of these correspondence files are restricted. Correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Of note in this series is correspondence with colleagues at Harvard Medical School, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the National
Cancer Institute, and the Passano Foundation; with UCSF colleagues such as J. Michael Bishop and Keith R. Yamamoto; as well
as individuals such as Peter K. Vogt, Robert Gallo, (National Institutes of Health), Salvador E. Luria, and scientists in
the United Kingdom and the Former Soviet Union.
Carton 1, Folder 13
Data and correspondence
1978-1979
Carton 1, Folder 14
Sabbatical correspondence
1978
Carton 1, Folder 15
Sabbitcal correspondence
1979
Carton 2, Folder 2
Japan correspondence
1981-82
Carton 2, Folder 16
Oncology nomenclature
1980-81
Carton 2, Folder 17
Mobile genetic elements [chapter]
1980
Box 9, Folder 1
Correspondence (RESTRICTED)
1973-1983
Box 9, Folder 2
Postdoctoral candidates (RESTRICTED)
1978
Box 9, Folder 3
Recommendations (RESTRICTED)
1975-1977
Box 9, Folder 4
Recommendations (RESTRICTED)
1978-1979
Box 9, Folder 5
Recommendations (RESTRICTED)
1980-1983
Box 9, Folder 6-11
Cell journal referee correspondence (RESTRICTED)
1973-1984
Box 10, Folder 1-5
Virology journal referee correspondence (RESTRICTED)
1972-1984
Box 10, Folder 6-8
Various referee correspondence (RESTRICTED)
1979-1984
Series 2
GRANT RECORDS AND RESEARCH AGENCIES
1971-1984
Physical Description:
18 Folders : Carton 3 3/1-3/12 ; Carton 3 3/13-3/18
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of records reflecting Varmus' role as a Primary Investigator on various grant-funded projects and his
numerous roles in variety of research agencies. The materials include grant proposals and correspondence, reviewer comments,
and progress reports for grant-funded projects with Harold Varmus as Principal Investigator unless noted. This series is further
organized into 3 subseries: 2.1 Grant Records, 2.2 Grant Review Activities, and 2.3 National Institutes of Health.
2.1
Grant Records
Physical Description:
12 Folders : Carton 3 3/1-3/12
Carton 3, Folder 1
Detection of Virus-Specific Nucleic Aids in Normal and transformed Avian Cells (J. Michael Bishop, Principal Investigator)
1972-1973
Carton 3, Folder 2
Biochemical Aspects of Rous Sarcoma Virus (Harold E. Varmus, Principal Investigator)
1973-1974
Carton 3, Folder 3-4
Biochemical Aspects of Rous Sarcoma Virus (Varmus and Bishop co-investigators)
1977
Carton 3, Folder 5-6
Biochemical Aspects of Rous Sarcoma Virus (Harold E. Varmus, Principal Investigator)
1980-1983
Carton 3, Folder 7-11
National Institutes of Health/NCI
Carton 3, Folder 7-8
Role of Virion-Associated DNA Polymerase in Malignant Transformation by Avian Tumor Viruses (J. Michael Bishop, Principal
Investigator)
1971-1974
Carton 3, Folder 9
Rous Sarcoma Virus Replication and Cellular Transformation (J.Michael Bishop, Principal Investigator)
1975
Carton 3, Folder 10
Rous Sarcoma Virus Replication and Cellular Transformation (J.Michael Bishop, Principal Investigator)
1979-1984
Carton 3, Folder 11
Molecular Biology of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (Harold E. Varmus, Principal Investigator)
1976-1981
UCSF School of Medicine, Committee on Research
Carton 3, Folder 12
Search for Provirus DNA in Rous Transformed Cells
1972-1973
2.2
Grant Review Activities
Physical Description:
6 Folders : Carton 3 3/13-3/18
Carton 3, Folder 13
American Cancer Society reviews
1976
Carton 3, Folder 14
American Cancer Society reviews
1981
Carton 3, Folder 15
American Cancer Society reviews
c. 1982
Carton 3, Folder 16
American Cancer Society reviews
1983
Carton 3, Folder 17
American Cancer Society reviews
1984
Carton 3, Folder 18
National Science Foundation reviews
1975
2.3
National Institutes of Health
Physical Description:
10 folders : Carton 3 3/19-3/29
Carton 3, Folder 19
National Institutes of Health Virology study section
1975
Carton 3, Folder 20-21
National Institutes of Health Virology study section
1976
Carton 3, Folder 22-24
National Institutes of Health Virology study section
1977
Carton 3, Folder 25
National Institutes of Health Virology study section
1978
Carton 3, Folder 26
National Institutes of Health Virology study section
1979
Carton 3, Folder 27
National Institutes of Health Virology study section
1980
Carton 3, Folder 28
National Institutes of Health Breast Cancer Virus Working Group
1973
Series 3
RESEARCH FILES
1970-1984
Physical Description:
101 Folders : Carton 3 3/29-3/35 ; Carton 4 4/1-4/35 ; Carton 5 5/1-5/30 ; Carton 6 6/1-6/19 ; Carton 7 7/1-7/10
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of Harold Varmus' research files. They mostly reflect Varmus' research interest in virology, oncology,
and genetics. They titles of these folders are taken directly from the handwriting on the original files which used many
abbreviations and some symbols not available on the keyboard.
Carton 3, Folder 31
RNA synthesis in enucleated cells (with HMG)
1974
Carton 3, Folder 33
In vitro labelling of viral DNA from cells
1974
Carton 4, Folder 5
Purification of BU labelled viral DNA
Carton 4, Folder 6
Mouse-hamster clones (Vince etc.)
Carton 4, Folder 9
Fractionation of + and - strands
Carton 4, Folder 10
Kinetics of strand synthesis
1976-1977
Carton 4, Folder 14
RI Ry with 3'—5' piece
1977
Carton 4, Folder 15
Nuclei and cytoplasmic 7x-3T3 clones
Carton 4, Folder 17
3T3 and NRK infections and clones
Carton 4, Folder 18
Marek's cells, clonings, etc. March 1978
1978
Carton 4, Folder 21
Labelled XC and QT24F (3H Thymidine)
Carton 4, Folder 22
Use and care of L19 rotor
Carton 4, Folder 24
Copy numbers for integrated DNA in multiply infected cells/QT24AEF
Carton 4, Folder 25
B77/DK acute infected Cyto, NUC.Nets and ALK Nets
Carton 4, Folder 27
Papers: Tom Padgett, Gwynn Lee Simon
1976-1977
Carton 4, Folder 29
DNA syn M by UV inact ASV
1975-1977
Carton 4, Folder 30
Virus inventory, late 1976
1976
Carton 4, Folder 32
Unintegrated DNA transformed duck cells
1975
Carton 4, Folder 34
Richards, Oliver et al Intermediates in the synthesis of viral DNA
1976
Carton 5, Folder 2
ALK gels/ + neut. gels denat. DNA
1978
Carton 5, Folder 3
cDNA 3' for blotting, kinetics blots, wash tests
1977
Carton 5, Folder 6
Revertants after MLV, super infection
1979
Carton 5, Folder 7
DNA cloning general (HEV)
1979-1980
Carton 5, Folder 10
Research files Myo #6
1977
Carton 5, Folder 11
BU int expts: BU blotting, Myo #10, 11
1978
Carton 5, Folder 13
Research files Myo #8,9,10 & 12
1978
Carton 5, Folder 14
Research files miscellaneous, DNA procedures
1976-1979
Carton 5, Folder 20-22
Current assorted projects
1973-1973
Carton 5, Folder 24
Experiments: cellular DNA
1975
Carton 5, Folder 25
Experiments: mouse mammary tumor virus
1971
Carton 5, Folder 26
Experiments: MTV - RNA
1972
Carton 5, Folder 27
Experiments: Foraminide
undated
Carton 5, Folder 28
Experiments: Chromosomal separation
1970-1971
Carton 6, Folder 4
Research: Ricky
1972-1973
Carton 6, Folder 5
Data for Journal of Virology, 1974
1974
Carton 6, Folder 6
Chromosome experiments
1976
Carton 6, Folder 7-8
Early experiments and viral DNA
1972-1972
Carton 6, Folder 9
Chromosomes preliminary experiments Tom P/Varmus
1975
Carton 6, Folder 10-11
Simon experiments
1975-1976
Carton 6, Folder 12-13
Cell DNA reassociation
1971-1972
Carton 6, Folder 15
Memorandums of Understanding rDNA registration
1979-1980
Carton 6, Folder 16
Illustrations (photographs and negatives, gels, notes, and graphs of revertant DNA data)
1978-1979
Carton 6, Folder 17
Cloning and procedures
1977-1980
Carton 6, Folder 18
Polyma, retrovirus records
1979
Carton 6, Folder 19
Special topics lectures
1981
Carton 7, Folder 1
Miscellaneous - Py+Dex etc.
1978-1981
Carton 7, Folder 2
Talks and courses
1976-1980
Carton 7, Folder 3
Notes for Columbia, Caltech and other talks
1980
Carton 7, Folder 4
Notes for lectures, Pediatrics Grand Rounds, 12 slides
1980-1984
Carton 7, Folder 5
Slides from binder - Avian DNA, viral DNA, sarc
1978-1979
Carton 7, Folder 6
Slides from binder - General, chromos, sarc
undated
Carton 7, Folder 7
Rous sarcoma virus project and duck cells, photograph negatives and slides
undated
Carton 7, Folder 8
MTV (mouse tumor virus) lantern slides
undated
Carton 7, Folder 9
Tumor virus lecture I and overflow lantern slides
undated
Carton 7, Folder 10
Retired research slides 2"x2"
undated
Series 4
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
1972-1983
Physical Description:
30 Folders : Carton 8 8/1-8/30
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of materials from many conferences and meetings Harold Varmus attended during the 1970s and early 1980s.
Carton 8, Folder 1
San Francisco-USC Meeting/ PACTVIGR (Pacific Coast Tumor Virus Group)
1972-1977
Carton 8, Folder 2
Ninth Meeting on Mammary Cancer, Pisa
1974
Carton 8, Folder 3
Gordon Conference, Animal Cells and Viruses
1975
Carton 8, Folder 4
Third International Conference for Virology Madrid
1975
Carton 8, Folder 6
UCLA-UCSF Meetings, MMTV Meeting
1976-1978
Carton 8, Folder 7
Europe 1977, Mosbacher Kolloqium
1977
Carton 8, Folder 8-9
Gordon Conference, Animal Cells and Viruses
1977
Carton 8, Folder 10
Gordon Research Conference, Hormone Action
1977
Carton 8, Folder 11
Gordon Conference
undated
Carton 8, Folder 13
Cold Spring Harbor, Viral Oncogenes
1979
Carton 8, Folder 14
Animal Virus Genetics Meeting
1979
Carton 8, Folder 15
New York Academy of Sciences Conference on Genetic Variation of Viruses
1979
Carton 8, Folder 16
Cold Spring Harbor
1980-1981
Carton 8, Folder 17
Science Writers Seminar
1981
Carton 8, Folder 19
DNA 1, Japanese language bound volume
c. 1982
Carton 8, Folder 20
International Workshop on Environmental Mutagenesis, Shanghai
1983
Carton 8, Folder 21
Florence steno notebook
undated
Carton 8, Folder 22
Loose notes - Eric [Blair?]
Dec. 7, 19--
Carton 8, Folder 23
MMTV, MTV workbook
c. 1976
Carton 8, Folder 24
Notes from unidentified meeting on transcription (Simmovitch, Yamamoto, Tom Cashey)
undated
Carton 8, Folder 25
Poster session "Multiple Mechanisms of Reversion of an ASV-Transformed Mammalian Cell Line" given at?
c. 1974
Carton 8, Folder 26
Negatives of photographs for various lectures
undated
Carton 8, Folder 27
DNA seminar lantern slides, 11/73
1973
Carton 8, Folder 28
Cold Spring Harbor lantern slides, handwritten
Notes
1974
Carton 8, Folder 29
ACS [Howard] Temin symposium lantern slides
undated
Carton 8, Folder 30
Lepetit [Colloquia] lantern slides
undated