New Flickr set of Glass Plate negative images

A new Flickr gallery showing some of the images that have been included in our current digitisation project is now available. The images have been selected from the glass plate negative series (KDBP/1/1) which contain a number of images documenting x-ray diffraction and other physical studies into DNA. The series dating from 1949 to 1984 contains significant landmark diffraction patterns of DNA including early crystalline A-and semi-crystalline B-forms in particularly 'Photo 51' created by Rosalind Franklin. Along with x-ray patterns there are also model representations of the structure and graphical representations of the King's team's findings.

An example from the quarter plate glass negative series. Slide is referenced "DNA and RNA models" and was produced in July 1964 (KDBP/1/1/5974/1)

The new Flickr set can be found in the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51665752@N04/sets/72157630717145856/

The Library of Maurice Wilkins: Part 2

In this second instalment regarding the personal library of Maurice Wilkins, I have selected a number of books from the collection and added contextual information.

Hiroshima Diary by Michihiko Hackiya, 1955: An eyewitness account by a Japanese doctor about the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. Maurice Wilkins was a verment anti-nuclear campaigner and it is unsurprising to find this in his library. He campaigned for Pugwash, SANA and CND throughout his life, visited Japan in 1982 and carried out a series of talks on nuclear disarmament (see below)

Life Itself: Its origin and nature by Francis Crick, 1982: In this book, Crick postulates that life began outside the solar system and uses evidence accumulated from his career in molecular biology to support his view. They met in 1948 and remained in contact for the rest of their lives. Below is an image of a postcard Crick sent Wilkins whilst on his honeymoon.

The Atomic Spies by H Montgomery Hyde, 1981: This book focuses on the British-based spies who provided the USSR with information relevant for the construction of an atomic bomb. Wilkins had links with two of the convicted men. He knew Klaus Fuchs at Birmingham University, and was friendly with the family of Allan Nunn May. He did not however know that he himself was also investigated by MI5 as a potential atomic spy from 1951-1954 (see previous blog post for more information: http://dnaandsocialresponsibility.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/maurice-wilkins-accused-of-spying-by.html).

Below, is an image of Maurice Wilkins, at a student anti-war protest in the 1930s.

Fallacy of Star Wars by Union of Concerned Scientists, 1982: This publication from 1984 provides an argument for opposing the development of a 'total ballistic missile defence' by the US Reagan administration. This issue was one that Maurice Wilkins campaigned against in the 1980’s along with the British government's procurement of Trident Missiles. The two issues are related to Wilkins' anti-nuclear campaigning and his role as president of Food and Disarmament International (FDI). Below is a photograph of Wilkins' campaigning against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom in December 1982. 

Medicine's 10 greatest discoveries by Meyer Friedman and G. W. Friedland: This book features a chapter entitled "Maurice Wilkins and DNA". Friedman corresponded frequently with Wilkins over the chapter and the made the bold move to focus on his involvement in the discovery. However, this didn't deter Wilkins from making numerous corrections in his copy of the finished book. The 'red pen' corrections and comments of Wilkins are a familiar feature of his papers and are often beneficial in providing context to scientific notes which would have proved difficult otherwise. Below is an example of Wilkins' own personal research on the history of the double helix, charting the physical methods used to establish a molecular structure.

The Library of Maurice Wilkins Part 1

'A personal library is an X-ray of the owner’s soul. It offers keys to a particular temperament, an intellectual disposition, a way of being in the world. Even how the books are arranged on the shelves deserves notice, even reflection. There is probably no such thing as complete chaos in such arrangements.'

 Jay Parini, American writer and academic (b 1948-)

As part of the acquisition of Maurice Wilkins personal papers for the King’s College London archives, the family also donated an extensive part of his private library. This generous gift contains a plethora of non-fictional material ranging from his scientific career in biophysics to later work in nuclear disarmament. The collection, consisting of books, booklets, pamphlets and journal articles, can be found within the Archives Reading Room in the Strand Building and occupies ten shelves. As the above quotation states, a personal library can be a window to the owner’s soul and the Wilkins library collection certainly conveys a sense of Wilkins’ range of interests. 

The collection contains journal articles and leaflets from a number of publications. Some relate to his scientific career with off-prints from the Journal of Molecular Biology, while others reveal his interest in the relationship between art and science. Also included are a series of annual booklets from the Nobel Prize organisation, listing prize winners. 

The published books cover a diverse number of subjects but can be broken down into the following categories:

Science: life sciences, genetics, physics and biographical material

History: mainly the history of science, but also of ancient Greece, the Renaissance and the political and scientific history of the twentieth century 

Psychology and Philosophy: psychoanalysis and how the mind works, also alternative therapies and eastern philosophy, in particular the practice of yoga

Anti-nuclear: relating to the anti-nuclear movement, disarmament, nuclear conflict.