This collection encompasses most of Delbrück's lifetime and chronicles his role in the development of molecular biology. The bulk of the materials date from the time of his immigration to the U.S. in 1946. They include personal and professional correspondence, lectures, manuscripts, and biographical material. These materials relate to topics such as his immigration as a German scientist during the early years of World War II; biophysics; his work with the Phage Information Service; his teaching and collaboration with students; and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Max Delbrück was born in Berlin in 1906, the youngest member of a large, intellectual family. His father was professor of history and his uncle professor of theology at the University of Berlin. Seeking his own identity in a highly distinguished family, Delbrück decided to study astronomy during high school. He continued his studies at the universities of Tübingen, Bonn and Berlin. He intended to do his dissertation at Göttingen in astronomy, but switched to theoretical physics. He worked under Max Born as a teaching assistant while doing his research under W. Heitler, and received his doctorate in 1930.

22 linear feet

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