Finding Aid to the Jesse Rabinowitz Papers, 1944-1999, bulk 1948-1995

Finding Aid written by Jennifer Davis
Funding for processing this collection was provided by the estate of Jesse Rabinowitz.
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid to the Jesse Rabinowitz Papers, 1944-1999, bulk 1948-1995

Collection Number: BANC MSS 2003/333 c

The Bancroft Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California Funding for processing this collection was provided by the estate of Jesse Rabinowitz.
Finding Aid Written By:
Jennifer Davis
Date Completed:
August 2006
© 2006 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Jesse Rabinowitz papers
Date (inclusive): 1944-1999,
Date (bulk): bulk 1948-1995
Collection Number: BANC MSS 2003/333 c
Creator: Rabinowitz, Jesse
Extent: Number of containers: 11 cartons, 2 boxes Linear feet: 14.4 linear feet
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: The Jesse Rabinowitz papers, 1944-1999, consist of correspondence, writings, research, and personal papers relating to his life and work as a biochemist. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, research material, and professional papers that Rabinowitz collected during his 40 year career with the Department of Biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Also included is a small array of personal papers which present a view of Rabinowitz's wide-ranging interests, as well as a limited collection of personal photographs.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English. There are some materials in French and Yiddish.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and the copyright. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Jesse Rabinowitz Papers, BANC MSS 2003/333 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Alternate Forms Available

There are no alternate forms of this collection.

Separated Material

No materials have been separated from this collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Rabinowitz, Jesse--Archives
University of California, Berkeley. Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology
Folic acid in human nutrition
Biochemistry--Research
Faculty papers.
History of science and technology collection

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Jesse Rabinowitz Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Mr. Edward Penhoet on October 17, 2003.

Accruals

No additions are expected.

Processing Information

Processed by Jennifer Davis in 2006.

Biographical Information

Jesse Charles Rabinowitz was born on April 28, 1925 in New York, New York. He was the only child of Julius and Frances Rabinowitz, immigrants to the United States from Eastern Europe. When he was eleven, the family relocated to Jersey Homesteads, an experimental Jewish co-op. In 1945, Rabinowitz received a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. From University of Wisconsin, he obtained a master's degree in biochemistry in 1947 and a Ph.D. in 1949.
After completing his doctorate, Rabinowitz spent a year studying under David Green at the University of Wisconsin Enzyme Institute. From 1951-1952, Rabinowitz furthered his postdoctoral study of purine fermentation by anaerobic bacteria at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1952 he joined the National Institutes of Health. Rabinowitz then joined the Department of Biochemistry at UC Berkeley in 1957, where he served as chair of the department from 1978 to 1983. During his long and distinguished career, Professor Rabinowitz taught and mentored many graduate and doctoral students. Rabinowitz became professor emeritus of the Biochemistry Department in 1991.
Over the course of his career, Rabinowitz did groundbreaking research in the essential B vitamin, folic acid. This research was begun under the tutelage of his graduate school professor, Esmond Snell and continued with one of Rabinowitz's graduate students, Dean Appling. As a result of their research, it is now widely advised that pregnant women take folic acid to prevent birth defects in newborns. In UC Berkeley's "In Memoriam" tribute, a colleague of Rabinowitz is quoted "Jesse worked out a good part of the basic biology of folic acid. In our research on chromosome breaks caused by folic acid deficiency, we keep coming across Jesse's old work. All his papers are classics."
Over the course of his career, Rabinowitz authored many scientific articles on the subjects of enzymology, purine fermentation, folic acid, clostridial ferredoxin, iron-sulfur proteins, and protein synthesis. In recognition of his contributions to science, he was awarded fellowships with the United States Public Health Service in 1962, the National Science Foundation in 1970, the Guggenheim Foundation in 1977, the National Academy of Sciences in 1981, and the American Academy of Microbiology in 1997. Rabinowitz was also the editor of the Journal of Biological Chemistry from 1965-1970 and from 1974-1977.
In addition to his career as professor at UC Berkeley, Rabinowitz was an avid photographer, music devotee, cellist, cook, dancer, and traveler. Rabinowitz enjoyed three sabbaticals in Paris and vacationed in Japan, Guatemala, and Egypt, among many other countries. His photographs of the people he met on his travels have been exhibited at galleries around the San Francisco Bay Area. For a photograph he made of a child in Mexico, Rabinowitz won the 1969 Saturday Review magazine World Travel Photography Grand Prize in Color. Rabinowtiz's extensive personal slide collection may be found at the McHenry Library of University of California, Santa Cruz. The University Library at University of California, Santa Cruz also received a donation of 2,700 classical CDs from Rabinowtiz's personal collection.
Jesse Rabinowitz died of melanoma Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at his home in Kensington, California.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Jesse Rabinowitz papers, 1944-1999, consist of correspondence, research, and personal papers relating to his life and work as a biochemist. The bulk of the collection includes correspondence, research material, and professional papers that Rabinowitz collected during his 40 year career with the Department of Biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Also included is a small array of personal papers which present a view of Rabinowitz's wide-ranging interests, as well as a limited collection of personal photographs.
The correspondence files make up the bulk of the collection and include letters to and from Rabinowitz as well as research materials, reprints, notes, and personal information. Collected in the General Research series is correspondence, notes, and various other material representing the following subjects: enzymology, purine fermentation, folic acid coenzymes, ferredoxin, iron-sulfur proteins, and protein biosynthesis. Grant applications and correspondence relating to grants are also included in this series. Rabinowitz collected reprints which illustrate 50 years of his research efforts in biochemistry; this work is also found in the General Research series.
Professional materials pertaining to Rabinowitz's career at the University of California, Berkeley and his outside affiliations are found in the University of California, Berkeley and the Professional Affiliations series. There is a notable lack of course materials found in the collection.
Rabinowitz was an avid traveler, amateur photographer, dancer, and cook. These personal interests are represented by his personal papers files. Included is correspondence, photographs, travelogues, and ephemera. Lastly, a small collection of photographs of Rabinowitz's lab colleagues and friends is found in the photographs series.

 

Series 1 Correspondence 1949-1997

Physical Description: Cartons 1-5

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Scope and Content Note

The correspondence files include incoming and outgoing correspondence of Dr. Rabinowitz's personal relations and colleagues. Correspondence is often in relation to biochemistry research and occasionally includes the scientific papers and research materials of Rabinowitz's colleagues. It is not uncommon to simultaneously find research and personal information within an individual letter or folder. Also included is correspondence to and from former students.
Carton 1, Folder 1

Abramowitz, Nurith 1966-1969

Carton 1, Folder 2

Allen, Esther 1960-1964

Carton 1, Folder 3-4

Ames, Bruce 1957-1993

Carton 1, Folder 5

Anderson, Bruce 1963-1965

Carton 1, Folder 6-8

Appling, Dean 1979-1995

Carton 1, Folder 9

Arnon, Stephen 1961-1968

Carton 1, Folder 10

A Miscellaneous 1957-1993

Carton 1, Folder 11

Baggett, Matthew 1965

Carton 1, Folder 12

Bailey, Laura K. 1967-1968

Carton 1, Folder 13

Baindur, Swati 1986-1989

Carton 1, Folder 14

Barany, George 1973-1974

Carton 1, Folder 15

Barker, H.A. 1953-1970

Carton 1, Folder 16

Blicharski, Janine 1966-1979

Carton 1, Folder 17

Brennan, Tim 1979

Carton 1, Folder 18

Broderick, James 1971-1982

Carton 1, Folder 19

Brody, Ed and Charlotte 1976-1986

Carton 1, Folder 20

Bruckner, R. 1985

Carton 1, Folder 21

Bryngelson, Lori 1987

Carton 1, Folder 22

Buchanan, Bob B. 1961-1978

Carton 1, Folder 23

Bull, Herb 1974

Carton 1, Folder 24-25

B Miscellaneous 1949-1993

Carton 1, Folder 26

California Corp. 1957-1959

Carton 1, Folder 27

Carlson, Gerry 1994-1996

Carton 1, Folder 28

Ceglowski, Piotr 1987-1994

Carton 1, Folder 29

Champion, , Alex 1970-1971

Carton 1, Folder 30

Chase, Ted 1963-1975

Carton 1, Folder 31

Chen, Ching-San 1970-1991

Carton 1, Folder 32

Cheung, Edwin 1994-1996

Carton 1, Folder 33

Chorey, Joanne 1982

Carton 1, Folder 34

Clark, Benedict 1974-1976

Carton 1, Folder 35

Cole, R. David 1964-1978

Carton 1, Folder 36

Cully, John 1963-1964

Carton 1, Folder 37

Curthoys, Norman 1970-1981

Carton 1, Folder 38-39

C Miscellaneous 1951-1994

Carton 1, Folder 40

D'Ari, Dick 1986-1993

Carton 1, Folder 41

D'Ari, Linda 1989-1992

Carton 1, Folder 42-43

Davidson, Barry 1977-1995

Carton 1, Folder 44-45

Delk, Ann 1971-1995

Carton 1, Folder 46

DiBona, Helene 1964-1995

Carton 1, Folder 47

DiRaimondo, Barry 1979

Carton 1, Folder 48

Doi, Roy 1980

Carton 1, Folder 49

Duoros, John 1972-1974

Carton 1, Folder 50

D Miscellaneous 1956-1994

Carton 1, Folder 51

Eisenberg, David 1968-1973

Carton 1, Folder 52

E Miscellaneous 1956-1993

Carton 1, Folder 53

Fancher, Harriett 1966-1967

Carton 1, Folder 54

Feigenblum, Ellen 1968-1975

Carton 2, Folder 1

Fox, Lawrence 1985

Carton 2, Folder 2

French, Jon 1977-1981

Carton 2, Folder 3

F Miscellaneous 1951-1992

Carton 2, Folder 4

Glaser Affair Letter to Chronicle 1973-1980

Carton 2, Folder 5

Glass, Robert 1986-1994

Carton 2, Folder 6

Gong, Bonnie 1978

Carton 2, Folder 7

Goodwin, Ralph 1965

Carton 2, Folder 8-11

Graves, Mary 1980-1995

Carton 2, Folder 12

Green, David 1951-1977

Carton 2, Folder 13

Gross, Marvin 1980-1982

Carton 2, Folder 14

Grossowicz, Nathan 1974

Carton 2, Folder 15

Grunberg-Manago, Maria 1971-1980

Carton 2, Folder 16-17

G Miscellaneous 1954-1993

Carton 2, Folder 18

Hager, Paul 1993-1994

Carton 2, Folder 19

Hamilton, Franklin 1967-1989

Carton 2, Folder 20

Heppel, Leon 1957-1974

Carton 2, Folder 21-22

Himes, Dick 1961-1989

Carton 2, Folder 23-24

Holden, Joe 1951-1997

Carton 2, Folder 25

Hong, Jen-Shiang 1968-1972

Carton 2, Folder 26

Hong, Yong Ki 1983

Carton 2, Folder 27

Hou, Ya-Ming 1980

Carton 2, Folder 28

Horecker, Bernie 1953-1979

Carton 2, Folder 29

Horvat, Agnes 1967-1968

Carton 2, Folder 30

Hurd, Noel 1974-1976

Carton 2, Folder 31

Hurwitz, Jerry 1956-1967

Carton 2, Folder 32-34

H Miscellaneous 1949-1994

Carton 2, Folder 35

I Miscellaneous 1968-1983

Carton 2, Folder 36

Jaenicke, Lothar 1964

Carton 2, Folder 37

Jensen, L.H. 1970-1993

Carton 2, Folder 38

Kapor, Gabrielle 1977-1983

Carton 2, Folder 39

Knecht, Erwin 1980-1981

Carton 2, Folder 40

Kornberg, Arthur 1964-1995

Carton 2, Folder 41-42

K Miscellaneous 1963-1996

Carton 2, Folder 43

Langridge, Roert 1973

Carton 2, Folder 44

Leder, Irwin 1964-1966

Carton 2, Folder 45

Lee, James 1987

Carton 2, Folder 46

Lee, Karl 1985-1988

Carton 2, Folder 47

Liao, Hans 1976-1981

Carton 2, Folder 48

Lichman, Ann 1967-1974

Carton 2, Folder 49

Lindwall, Glen 1982

Carton 2, Folder 50

Lin, Chia Po 1983

Carton 2, Folder 51

Lippard, Steve 1971-1973

Carton 2, Folder 52-53

Lode, Eglis T. 1970-1975

Carton 2, Folder 54

Lovenberg, Walt 1963-1987

Carton 3, Folder 1

L Miscellaneous 1964-1989

Carton 3, Folder 2

MacKenzie, Robert E. 1968-1991

Carton 3, Folder 3

Malkin, Dick 1963-1977

Carton 3, Folder 4

Marks, P.A. and Joan 1968-1995

Carton 3, Folder 5

Mason, R. 1964-1973

Carton 3, Folder 6

McGuire, John J. 1974-1989

Carton 3, Folder 7-8

McLaughlin, Jane 1977-1989

Carton 3, Folder 9

Mildvan, A.S. 1967-1968

Carton 3, Folder 10

Mims, Gloria 1975-1976

Carton 3, Folder 11

Munly, Bruce 1963-1977

Carton 3, Folder 12

Murai, John 1986-1987

Carton 3, Folder 13

Murray, Cheryl 1977-1982

Carton 3, Folder 14

M Miscellaneous 1965-1995

Carton 3, Folder 15

Mc Miscellaneous 1968-1981

Carton 3, Folder 16

Nagle, David 1975-1987

Carton 3, Folder 17

Nandi, Jayashree 1982

Carton 3, Folder 18

Neumuller, Magnus 1982

Carton 3, Folder 19

Nishman, Ben 1964-1966

Carton 3, Folder 20

Noah, Bob 1978

Carton 3, Folder 21-22

Nour, Johara 1985-1996

Carton 3, Folder 23

N Miscellaneous 1964-1994

Carton 3, Folder 24

O'Donoghue, Gerard 1983-1986

Carton 3, Folder 25

Ostroff, Gary 1982

Carton 3, Folder 26

O Miscellaneous 1968-1986

Carton 3, Folder 27

Packer, Elliot 1964-1986

Carton 3, Folder 28

Palmer, Graham 1966-1975

Carton 3, Folder 29

Park, Morgan 1986-1987

Carton 3, Folder 30

Parker, Riley D., Jr. 1986

Carton 3, Folder 31

Paukert, James L. 1969-1980

Carton 3, Folder 32

Penhoet, Ed 1977-1982

Carton 3, Folder 33

Phillips, W.D. 1967

Carton 3, Folder 34

P Miscellaneous 1964-1986

Carton 3, Folder 35-36

Raeburn, Sam 1963-1971

Carton 3, Folder 37

Raftery, Mike 1964-1965

Carton 3, Folder 38

Reingold, Arthur 1977-1987

Carton 3, Folder 39

Romeo, J. 1974

Carton 3, Folder 40

R Miscellaneous 1963-1993

Carton 3, Folder 41

Samuel, Charles 1970-1973

Carton 3, Folder 42

Samiro, Seppo 1972

Carton 3, Folder 43

Sastri, Rama 1963-1965

Carton 3, Folder 44

Schwartz, John 1971-1975

Carton 3, Folder 45-46

Scott, John Martin 1965-1996

Carton 3, Folder 47

Schiotz, Bodil and Henrick 1962-1996

Carton 3, Folder 48

Searle, Barbara 1958-1961

Carton 3, Folder 49

Shannon, Karen 1993-1996

Carton 3, Folder 50

Sharrock, Bill 1973-1988

Carton 4, Folder 1

Shor, Ruth 1992-1993

Carton 4, Folder 2

Shores, Ed and Joan 1963-1974

Carton 4, Folder 3

Skjeldal, Lars 1988-1989

Carton 4, Folder 4

Sohel, Indira 1981-1990

Carton 4, Folder 5

Snell, Esmond 1986

Carton 4, Folder 6

Springer, Mathias 1993-1995

Carton 4, Folder 7-10

Staben, Charles 1967-1995

Carton 4, Folder 11

Stallcup, Michael 1970-1983

Carton 4, Folder 12

Sternlicht, Himan 1974-1976

Carton 4, Folder 13

Straus, Linda D'Ari 1970-1985

Carton 4, Folder 14

Suarez-Mata, Zadila 1975-1980

Carton 4, Folder 15-16

Sweeney, William 1972-1995

Carton 4, Folder 17-19

S Miscellaneous 1963-1993

Carton 4, Folder 20

Taylor, Lori B. 1988

Carton 4, Folder 21

Toohey, John 1994

Carton 4, Folder 22

Tonomura, Ben 1963-1981

Carton 4, Folder 23

Tucker, Jeff 1986-1988

Carton 4, Folder 24

T Miscellaneous 1963-1994

Carton 4, Folder 25

Uyeda, Kosaku 1962-1993

Carton 4, Folder 26

Vellanoweth, Robert 1994

Carton 4, Folder 27

V Miscellaneous 1963-1977

Carton 4, Folder 28

Wahls, Wayne 1992-1994

Carton 4, Folder 29

Wallach, Robin 1983

Carton 4, Folder 30

Wawszkiewicz, Ed 1973-1987

Carton 4, Folder 31

Whitehead, Terence 1981-1993

Carton 4, Folder 32

Whittaker, Vivian 1959-1971

Carton 4, Folder 33

Williams, Gene and Alice 1973-1976

Carton 4, Folder 34

W Miscellaneous 1963-1990

Carton 4, Folder 35

X-Y-Z Miscellaneous 1965-1989

Carton 4, Folder 36

Ziegler, Erica 1973-1992

 

Series 2 General Research Files 1947-1997

Physical Description: Cartons 4-7

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Scope and Content Note

The General Research Files include papers relating to Professor Rabinowitz's work in the field of biochemistry. In addition to his own research, Rabinowitz also collected the work of his colleagues. Reprints of published papers, correspondence, and notes are included. Major research topics covered include: enzymology, purine fermentation, folic acid coenzymes, clostridial ferredoxin, formyltetrahydrofolate sythetase, iron-sulfur proteins, and protein synthesis. Research conducted prior to 1963 is not found in this collection. Much of the material is undated. Also included are applications and materials related to grant work. Reprints represent over 50 years of published scientific articles authored by Rabinowitz. Major subjects of the articles include: the vitamin B6 group; purine fermentation by clostridium cylindrosporum; folic acid; Vitamin B12; protein synthesis; and clostridial ferredoxin. Coauthors include Esmond Snell, W.E. Pricer, Richard Malkin, J.-S. Hong, Norman Curthoys, Charles E. Samuel, Ann S. Delk, Cheryl L. Murray, and Dean Appling.
Carton 4, Folder 37-49

Research Files 1963-1996, n.d.

Carton 5, Folder 1-34

Research Files 1963-1996

Carton 6, Folder 1-26

Research Files 1963-1991, n.d.

Carton 6, Folder 27-33

Grants 1968-1997

Carton 7, Folder 1-6

Grants 1968-1997

Carton 7, Folder 7-13

Reprints 1947-1995

 

Series 3 University of California, Berkeley 1957-1999

Physical Description: Carton 7, 8

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Scope and Content Note

Rabinowitz's collection of files pertaining to his career with the University of California, Berkeley, Department of Biochemistry is found this series. The Departmental Files include administrative papers; curriculum notes; and Rabinowitz's bio-bibliography. There is a very limited collection of course lecture notes. The Committees files contain documentation relating to the committees Rabinowitz took part in at the University of California, Berkeley. In particular, Rabinowitz was active on the College of Natural Resources Academic Planning Committee and the Health and Medical Sciences Program Curriculum Committee.
Carton 7, Folder 14-41

Departmental Files 1957-1999

Carton 8, Folder 1-8

Departmental Files 1957-1999

Carton 8, Folder 9-21

Committees 1957-1999

 

Series 4 Professional Affiliations 1948-1995

Physical Description: Cartons 8, 9

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Scope and Content Note

The professional affiliations series represents Jesse Rabinowtiz's membership in professional associations; attendance at biochemistry conferences; and miscellaneous professional papers. Rabinowitz was an active member of the American Society of Biological Chemistry; correspondence, memoranda, and meeting notes in relation to this association are included in the Associations sub-series. Conference files include meeting minutes, programs, rosters, notes, and correspondence. There is also a small amount of scientific paper reprints that were presented at the conferences.
Carton 8, Folder 22-27

Associations 1965-1995, n.d.

Carton 8, Folder 28-37

Conferences 1975-1991, n.d.

Carton 8, Folder 38-56

Miscellaneous Professional 1948-1994

Carton 9, Folder 1-6

Miscellaneous Professional 1948-1994

 

Series 5 Personal Papers 1945-1996

Physical Description: Cartons 9-11

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Scope and Content Note

Rabinowitz's Personal Papers present a view of his interests in various associations, clubs, music, Scottish dance, travel, and more. There is a small amount of correspondence relating to his family. Also in this series is miscellaneous correspondence, including retirement letters and postcards to and from the Biochemistry lab. Travel Files contain material relating to Rabinowitz's personal travels across the world. He spent several sabbaticals in Paris, and vacationed in Japan, Guatemala, and Egypt among other countries. Of particular significance is the file entitled Travel Chronology; it provides a chronological list of the trips that Rabinowitz took from 1963-1994. Included is correspondence, postcards, pamphlets, ephemera, photographs, and brochures.
Carton 9, Folder 7-63

Personal Papers 1953-1996

Carton 10, Folder 1-28

Personal Papers 1953-1996

Carton 10, Folder 29-31

Thesis Research Notebooks 1945-1949

Carton 10, Folder 32-51

Travel Files 1953-1996

Carton 11, Folder 1-41

Travel Files 1953-1996

 

Series 6 Photographs 1947-1987

Physical Description: Boxes 1-2

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Scope and Content Note

Laboratory and other miscellaneous personal photographs are found in this series. Of particular interest are photographs of the 1955 team of National Institute of Health scientists: Bruce Ames, Leon Heppel, and Bill Pricer, among others. Included are a collection of largely unidentified negatives and slides. In addition, there are photo prints of Rabinowitz's 1987 laboratory team, the 1945 University of Wisconsin Biochemistry Department, and the 1949 Enzyme Research Institute team. A number of the negatives appear to be of the 1963 Barker Hall construction on the University of California, Berkeley campus. Although Rabinowitz was an amateur travel photographer, this collection does not represent these pursuits. Rabinowtiz's extensive personal slide collection may be found at the McHenry Library of University of California, Santa Cruz.
Box 1, Folder 1-5

Photographs 1955-1987, undated

Box 1, Folder 6-9

Negatives undated

Box 2, Folder 1-22

Photographs 1947-1987, undated