Finding Aid for the Roslyn Alfin-Slater Papers LSC.0592
Finding aid prepared by Angel Diaz, 2018.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 14 June 2018.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
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Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Roslyn Alfin-Slater papers
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.0592
Physical Description:
6.4 Linear Feet
(16 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1946-2000
Abstract: Roslyn B. Alfin-Slater (1916-2002) was faculty in the UCLA Department of Public Health and known in the field for her common-sense
approach to diet and nutrition. The papers include correspondence, research notes, administrative materials from the UCLA
Department of Public Health, drafts and final copies of manuscripts, and grant proposals and documentation. This collection
also includes research correspondence, collected materials and publications related to Alfin-Slater's research on the effects
of dietary intake of cholesterol, with a focus on avocado and palm oils.
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.
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Conditions 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.
Gift of Roslyn Alfin-Slater and Grant Slater, 2002.
[Identification of item], Roslyn Alfin-Slater papers (Collection 592). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processed by Angel Diaz, 2018.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9947696293606533
Roslyn B. Alfin-Slater was faculty in the UCLA Department of Public Health and known for her common-sense approach to diet
and nutrition. She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1916 and received a BA from Brooklyn College (1936), and a MS in chemistry
(1942) and PhD in biochemistry (1946) from Columbia University. Following appointments at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for
Cancer Research and the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition at the University of Southern California, Alfin-Slater joined
the faculty of UCLA's School of Public Health in 1959 and helped found its program in Public Health Nutrition.
Alfin-Slater was one of the first scientists to examine how diet affected health status. She studied the relationship between
cholesterol and essential fatty acid metabolism, and was among the first to question the effects of dietary intake of cholesterol
on cholesterol levels in the blood. She wrote more than 200 scientific papers, co-edited the four-volume series
Human Nutrition, A Comprehensive Treatise (1979-1993) and the book,
Nutrition for Today (1973). Alfin-Slater also co-authored the
Los Angeles Times column "Science, Food and Health" (1972-1982).
Alfin-Slater formally retired in 1987, but remained active in nutrition and the UCLA community, serving as president of the
Emeriti Association from 1989-1990. Her husband, Grant Slater, was a research biological chemist at the UCLA School of Public
Health. Alfin-Slater died in Los Angeles in 2002.
The Roslyn Alfin-Slater papers contain materials related to the professional research of UCLA Professor of Community Health
Sciences, Public Health and Biological Chemistry, Roslyn Alfin-Slater. The papers include correspondence, research notes,
administrative materials from the UCLA Department of Public Health, drafts and final copies of manuscripts, and grant proposals
and documentation. This collection includes research correspondence, notes, collected materials and publications related to
Alfin-Slater's research on the effects of dietary intake of cholesterol, with a focus on aplm oil and avocados.
Materials are arranged by type.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
Interview of Roslyn B. Alfin-Slater [A passion for nutrition oral history transcript] / Rebecca Stone, interviewer. UCLA Library Special Collections, Center for Oral History interview, 1994-1995. Available at UCLA Library Special Collections,
Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women nutritionists -- United States -- Archives
Avocado
Palm oil
University of California, Los Angeles. School of Public Health. Faculty -- Archives
box 1, box 2, box 3
Biographical and professional work 1970-2000
Boxes include biographical materials, including curricula vitae, bibliographies, and faculty promotion materials; administrative
materials, memos, and agendas from the UCLA Department of Public Health; and materials related to the Emeriti Association,
of which Alfin-Slater served as president from 1989-1990. Also includes materials related to Alfin-Slaters advisory role with
the American Council on Science and Health.
box 3, box 4
Correspondence 1955-1998
Correspondence between Alfin-Slater and colleagues at UCLA, mentors, fellow researchers, publishers, government officials,
food industry leaders, and other agencies. Topics related to Alfin-Slater's research and manuscripts, conferences and other
speaking events, consulting, and committee work.
box 4, box 5, box 6
Research: Palm oil 1987-1994
Materials from Alfin-Slater's research on the health impacts of palm oil intake, including correspondence, research grant
proposals, reports and manuscripts, conference and meeting documents, and collected research materials. Alfin-Slater served
on multiple committees related to palm oil research, including the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia and the US Nutrition
Advisory Committee of Palm Oil.
box 7, box 8, box 9
Research: Avocados 1954-1995
Materials from Alfin-Slater's research on the health impacts of avocado consumption, particularly on cholesterol. Materials
include correspondence, research proposals, reports and manuscripts, conference and meeting documents, and collected research
materials. Alfin-Slater served as a scientific member of the California Avocado Commission, and its predecessor the California
Avocado Advisory Board, attending committee meetings and reviewing informational and promotional materials.
box 10, box 11, box 12, box 13
Research: Health topics 1955-1995
Boxes include correspondence, clippings, notes, manuscripts drafts, and promotional materials related to a number of Alfin-Slater's
research topics, including aging, cholesterol, heart disease, fat metabolism, meat, the Mediterranean Diet, nutritional mythology,
pectin, sugar, raisins, vitamin E, and others. The boxes also include materials related to research grants, such as correspondence
and reports.
box 14, box 15, box 16
Publications and talks 1946-1992
Boxes include drafts of, correspondence related to, and published papers by Alfin-Slater. She maintained a column for the
Los Angeles Times with Derrick Jelliffe called "Science, Food and Health" (1972-1982). There are also lectures and talks delivered at conferences,
meetings, and other events, as well as Alfin-Slater's dissertation,
Further Studies of the Action of Pancreatic Amylase (1946).