The Edward B. Lewis papers collection document his professional work as a geneticist. Some materials of interest include Lewis's lab notebooks regarding his work in Drosophila research, genetics, and radiation studies. The collection also has correspondence with professional colleagues and many archival boxes of material related to his winning of the Nobel Prize, including congratulatory notes and ceremony festivities documents. There are also many photographic prints of scanning electron microscope images of mutant drosophila, and also some personal family photos.

Edward Butts Lewis was born on May 20, 1918 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota in 1939. Under the guidance of Alfred S. Sturtevant, Lewis earned his PhD from Caltech in 1942. During World War II, Lewis served as a meteorologist and oceanographer in the United States Army Air Force. From 1946-1948, Lewis began his teaching career as Instructor, and advanced to Assistant, Associate Professor, Professor through 1948-1966, and Thomas Hunt Morgan Professor of Biology from 1966-1988. He became emeritus in 1988 until his passing on July 21, 2004.

22.5 linear feet (53 standard archival boxes, 2 half size archival boxes)

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.

The collection is open for research. Researchers must make an appointment for access. Some files are closed due to privacy and confidentiality. Consult the Caltech Archives for more information.