Finding Aid for the Alexander Kolin Papers LSC.0966
Finding aid prepared by Aislinn Catherine Sotelo with assistance from Elizabeth Sheehan in the Center for Primary Research
and Training (CFPRT), May 2007; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2022.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Alexander Kolin papers
Creator:
Kolin, Alexander
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.0966
Physical Description:
1.6 Linear Feet
(3 boxes and 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1929-1990
Abstract: The collection consists of correspondence (including letters from Albert Einstein), United States patents for Kolin's inventions,
and awards.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Peter S. Willcox, 2005.
Custodial History
Dr. Wilcox inherited the material from his wife, Dr. Nancy Willcox (née Nancy Posch), upon her death. Nancy Willcox was a
graduate student of Dr. Kolin's in the late 1960s and inherited the items directly from Dr. Kolin.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Alexander Kolin Papers (Collection Number 966). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processing Information
Processed by Aislinn Catherine Sotelo with assistance from Elizabeth Sheehan in the Center for Primary Research and Training
(CFPRT), May 2007.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Alexander Kolin, Emeritus Professor of Biophysics, inventor of the electromagnetic flow meter and of isoelectric focusing,
for which he was a strong candidate for the Nobel Prize, died April 21, 1997, at his home in Los Angeles at age 87, from cancer.
Kolin was born in Odessa, Russia, on March 12, 1910. Neither of Kolin's parents had a scientific orientation, be he showed
an early aptitude, doing experiments at home, from the age of six. Famine, revolution and subsequent difficult conditions
in Russia induced the Kolin family to leave. They moved to Berlin, Germany, in 1922, where Kolin rapidly learned the German
language, and with great sacrifices by his parents, received tutoring in basic subjects to make up for his previous lack of
educational opportunity. The study of physics became his passion, and Kolin was inspired by the galaxy of famous physicists
in Berlin, including Einstein, Planck, Schrodinger, Hertz, and Nernst. Kolin studied at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin,
completing his undergraduate studies in physics, and accepting an opportunity to do his doctoral work under Gustav Hertz,
studying plasmas. In 1933, with his work barely underway, Kolin and his parents were stunned by the news of the Reichstag
fire, and decided to leave Germany. They moved to Czechoslovakia, where Kolin enrolled at the German University of Prague,
and chose a new thesis topic, which he finished in the record time of fourteen months. Soon thereafter, young Kolin immigrated
to the United States to seek work. Through a mutual friend, Kolin met Albert Einstein, whom he impressed sufficiently to merit
several letters of recommendation, which eventually helped Kolin find a position at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago,
Illinois, where he worked by day and did independent research at night. During this time, he invented and began to develop
the electromagnetic flow meter, initially applying it to the measurement of blood flow in animals. For the past fifty years,
electromagnetic flowmeters have been widely used in medicine and industry. Kolin held various research and teaching positions
in Chicago and New York before becoming Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago in 1946. There, he wrote a textbook
on physics, discovered the phenomenon of elctromagnetophoresis, and invented isoelectric focusing, a laboratory technique
that is widely used in biomedical research. Kolin moved to UCLA in 1956, to do both teaching and research, and retired in
1977 as Emeritus Professor of Biophysics. During this period, he invented endless fluid belt electrophoresis; received the
prestigious John Scott Medal for his invention of the blood flow meter; and received the Albert F. Sperry Medal for flowmeter
developments. In 1977, he received the Alexander von Humboldt Award from the Federal Republic of Germany. In retirement, he
continued to pursue scientific research until physically unable. His wife, Renee who passed away in 2003, survived Professor
Kolin. [Adapted from an obituary written by Professor Kolin's former graduate student, Dr. Nancy Wilcox, April 21, 1997.]
Scope and Content
Collection consists of correspondence, paperwork on patented inventions, research and teaching materials, and numerous awards.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Correspondence
- Patents
- Research materials
- Teaching materials
- Awards.
Has materials in English and German.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Physicists -- United States -- Archives.
Kolin, Alexander, 1910-1997---Archives.
box 1, folder 1
Albert Einstein correspondence
1934-1949
Scope and Contents note
27 items including letters and envelopes. 14 letters contain Einstein's signature.
box 1, folder 2
Arne Tiselius correspondence
1955-1958
Scope and Contents note
Letters and envelopes from Nobel Prize winner Arne Tiselius to Alexander Kolin. 5 items.
box 1, folder 3
Correspondence--Request University Patent reimbursement
1972 November 28
Scope and Contents note
Letter from Alexander Kolin requesting reimbursement for the filing fee for the "Disclosure Document Program." Originally
in folder titled "Commissioner of Patents Priority Letters."
box 1, folder 4
Correspondece, 1932-1957
1932-1957
Scope and Contents note
10 itmes including letters and envelopes.
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence, 1958-1980
1958-1980
Scope and Contents note
11 items including letters and envelopes. One n.d.
box 1, folder 6
"Important Letters and Documents"
1957-1987
Scope and Contents note
Includes photocopies of letters, Kolins' marriage certificate, and original folder holding these items.
box 1, folder 7
Commissioner of Patents--Priority Letters--Disclosure Documents
1972-1979
Scope and Contents note
Contains disclosure documents and handwritten explanations of inventions.
box 1, folder 8
Commissioner of Patents-- U.S. Patent Offices Disclosures
1972-1988
Scope and Contents note
Contains handwritten explanations of inventions and patent information.
box 1, folder 9
"Invention Protection"
1979-1990
Scope and Contents note
In original folder labeled "Invention Protection," are public vouchers for refunds from the Department of Commerce and Trademark
Office for "Performance minus N". Disclosure Document Receipt Notices for "Alternating Field Iso Focusing," paper title, "Self-Contained
Induction Rheoangiometer". Also includes a business card for Edward H. Loveman, and 3 envelopes, 2 of which are addressed
to Alexander Kolin from Alexander Kolin and are unopened (and appear to be empty) and one which is from Alexander Kolin to
the Commissioner of Patents and is opened.
box 1, folder 10
Originals of UC Patents
1972-1988
Scope and Contents note
Original patents from the United States, Canada, and Germany.
Research Materials Series 3.
Scope and Contents note
Notebooks and papers containing Kolin's research notes.
box 2, folder 1
Academic document
1929
Scope and Contents note
Kolin's academic document from the Oberrealschule in Berlin.
box 2, folder 2
"Alexander Kolin, FDS 1958-64" notebook
1958-1964
Scope and Contents note
One notebook and 4 loose leaf sheets of notes inserted in front cover.
box 2, folder 3
"Device for Measuring Fluid Flow"
1946 September 8
Scope and Contents note
Paper titled, "Device for Measuring Fluid Flow" signed by Alexander Kolin and Evelyn Rush the Notary Public of Cook County,
Ill dated 1946 September 8. Postcard of "Domaine d'Esterel Ski Lodge Lac Masson Que'" dated 1946 September 8.
General note
Paper and postcard found together.
box 2, folder 4
"Method for Determination of Speed of an Airplane, or Other Vehicle, with Respect to Ground"
1946 September 29
Scope and Contents note
One sheet titled, "Method for Determination of Speed of an Airplane, or Other Vehicle, with Respect to Ground"
box 2, folder 5
"Records of my Studies"
1929-1933
Scope and Contents note
3 notebooks: "Belegbuch fur Studierende Technische Hochschule Berlin" 1929-1931, two items inserted ; "Friedrich-Wilhelms
Universitat zu Berlin Studienbuch" (1 of 2), 1929, one item inserted ; "Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat zu Berlin Studienbuch"
(2 of 2), 1931-1933, one item inserted. Original envelope holding the notebooks is labelled by hand reading " Research of
my Studies". 4 items.
box 2, folder 6
Sterling Record Notebook
1949-1950
Scope and Contents note
One "Sterling Record" Notebook with Kolin's notes. Two loose leaf sheets of notes inserted in the middle of the notebook.
Teaching Materials Series 4.
box 2, folder 7
1967 Sigma Xi Lecture: "Michael Faraday: Glimpses of an Inspiring Life"
1967
Scope and Contents note
1967 Sigma Xi Lecture titled, "Michael Faraday: Glimpses of an Inspiring Life"
General note
Note on first page reads: "File in vault."
box 2, folder 8
Teaching Film: Electromagnetic Determination of Blood Flow and Vascular Diameter Changes Without Sugical Exposure of the Blood
Vessels
1977
Scope and Contents note
1 item. Teaching Film: Electromagnetic Determination of Blood Flow and Vascular Diameter Changes Without Sugical Exposure
of the Blood Vessels. Outline by Alexander Kolin, UCLA School of Medicine (Drs. R.N. MacAlpin and R.J. Steckel to be invited
to participate in the narration and making of the final film.)
General note
Copyright Alexander Kolin, 1977
box 3, folder 1
Albert F. Sperry Award
1967
Scope and Contents note
Framed Albert F. Sperry Award 1967 Presented for Distinguished Achievement to Alexander Kolin. The Intsrument Society of America.
box 3, folder 2
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Urkunde Award
1977
Scope and Contents note
Framed Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Urkunde Prof. Dr. Alexander Kolin award.
box 3, folder 3
The City of Philadelphia John Scott Medal and Premium Award
1965 June 18
Scope and Contents note
Framed City of Philadelphia John Scott Medal and Premium Award to Alexander Kolin, Doctor Rerum Naturalium
box 4, folder 1
Electrophoresis Society Founders Award 1981
1981
Scope and Contents note
Professor Alexander Kolin Electrophoresis Society Founders Award 1981 For Outstanding Contributions to the Field. Plaque.
box 4, folder 2
Instrument Society of America Albert F. Sperry Medal Award
1967 September 12
Scope and Contents note
"In recognition of his work of three decades in designing and developing magnetic flowmeters..." Medal
box 4, folder 3
John Scott Medal to the Most Deserving (The)
1965 June 18
Scope and Contents note
Awarded by the City of Philadelphia the John Scott Medal to the Most Deserving Alexander Kolin Doctor Rerum Naturalium for
the Invention of the Electro Magnetic Flow Meter. Medal.