McConnell (Harden M.) papers, circa 1947-2014
Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Harden M. McConnell papers
- Dates:
- circa 1947-2014
- Creators:
- McConnell, Harden M.
- Extent:
- 22.75 Linear Feet
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], Harden M. McConnell papers (SC1276). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Background
- Biographical / historical:
-
Harden Marsden McConnell (1927-2014) was the Robert Eckles Swain Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Stanford University. He was a leading 20th-century physical and biophysical chemist known for incisive contributions in both theory and experiment. Over his career, he significantly advanced understanding of magnetic resonance, cell membrane biophysics and immunology. His early work elucidated how the electronic structure of molecules contributes to electron spin and nuclear magnetic resonance (ESR and NMR) spectra. He developed the spin labeling technique, using free-radical labels with ESR spectroscopy to reveal protein and lipid membrane structure and kinetics. Leveraging this and related work, Professor McConnell and colleagues founded Molecular Devices, Inc. in 1983, to develop tools to study cellular response. His later career focused on biophysical studies of membranes, antibodies and molecules of the major histocompatibility complex.
Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1927, Professor McConnell completed his undergraduate studies at George Washington University (BS 1947). His doctoral research in chemistry guided by Norman Davidson at the California Institute of Technology (PhD 1951) focused on optical interaction absorption, a phenomenon of higher-than-predicted light absorption by two ion species in solution. After graduation, he studied charge transfer processes during postdoctoral research under physicist and chemist Robert Mulliken at the University of Chicago. He returned to the West Coast to pursue studies of nuclear magnetic resonance spectral characteristics at the Shell Development Company in Emeryville, California, before joining the Caltech faculty in 1956. Starting as assistant professor, he rose to associate professor in 1959 and full professor in 1959. He was recruited to Stanford in 1964. Here, he continued explorations into stable free-radicals that led to the spin labeling technique, and conducted research into membrane dynamics and proteins of the immune system, which he continued even after his official retirement to emeritus status.
For more information about McConnell and his lab read The McConnell book : biographical sketches and memoirs of students and lab associates in celebration of Harden M. McConnell's 65th birthday, 1992.
- Physical location:
- Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-01-15 14:57:16 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish. 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], Harden M. McConnell papers (SC1276). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
- Location of this collection:
-
Stanford University Archives, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6064, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022