Collection ID: LMC1538
Printable View Printable View

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Haurowitz, Felix, 1896-1987
Abstract:
The Haurowitz mss., 1920-1985, consists of the papers of chemist Felix Haurowitz, 1896-1987.
Extent:
23 Boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item], Haurowitz mss., 1920-1985, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Felix Haurowitz, 1896-1987, was born on 1 March 1896 in Prague, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1915, he was drafted into the Austrian army and sent to the Austrian front during World War I. His parents sent him textbooks to read while he was in the army, and he developed a keen interest in chemistry. He was subsequently granted a year's leave by the government to obtain a medical degree, which he received in 1922. He earned a doctorate of science degree in 1923 and in 1925 was appointed assistant professor at the German University in Prague. Over the next few years, he worked with several important biochemists and researched hemoglobin and its derivatives. He began work on his popular "Progress in Biochemistry" series and from 1930 made immunochemistry his principal area of research. When the Nazi invasion forced him to leave Prague in 1939, he took the position of Head of Biological and Medical Chemistry in the Medical School at University of Istanbul, Turkey. He devoted himself to teaching, research and producing a Turkish textbook of biochemistry. In 1948, he started teaching chemistry at Indiana University, and became a Distinguished Professor there in 1958. During his career, he gained widespread recognition for his work on antibodies and received numerous honors which included the Paul Erhlich gold medal (West Germany), election to the German Academy of Scientists (Leopoldina), Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and member of the National Academy of Sciences. He was also awarded an honorary MD by the University of Istanbul and an honorary doctorate of science degree by Indiana University. In 1971, he was honored at the First International Congress of Immunology for "distinguished services to immunology." Of his ten books, he considered Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, whose second edition was called Chemistry and Function of Proteins, to be the most important. He remained active in science up to his death on 2 December 1987.

Scope and Content:

The Haurowitz mss., 1920-1985, consists of the papers of chemist Felix Haurowitz, 1896-1987.

The extensive correspondence is both scientific and personal in nature. Haurowitz remained in contact with scientists and students over many years. Of particular interest are his exchanges, spanning the years 1937-1985, with the Nobel prize winner Max Perutz. The early personal letters often reflect the difficulties and tragedies of the war years. Correspondents include: Fritz Arndt, John Tileston Edsall, Leon Ellenbogen, Sidney Fleischer, Sidney Fox, Wallace Friedberg, John D. Hawkins, Michael Heidelberger, Arthur Lietze, Hans Neurath, Linus Pauling, Max F. Perutz, Maxwell Richter, Michael Sela, and Hans Winterstein.

Departmental materials consist mainly of internal memorandums and other materials relating to his role as professor at Indiana University. The Research/Writings section contains research, preliminary notes, and typescripts of his scientific papers, books, and lectures including bound volumes of his scientific protocols. Over 360 of his reprints are included in the collection. Photographs include those of Haurowitz and his colleagues. Typescripts and notes of scientific papers delivered at numerous conferences, correspondence concerning editorial work for various journals, and further correspondence and materials related to his membership of both American and European scientific societies completes the Societies section. The Photographs section includes pictures of Haurowitz and his colleagues. Newspaper and journal clippings, newsletters and pamphlets make up the Printed section.

Acquisition information:
Gift: 1989
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series: I. Correspondence; II. Departmental; III. Research/Writings; IV. Conferences; V. Societies; VI. Photographs; and VII. Printed.

Physical location:
ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility)

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

This collection is open for research.

Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Haurowitz mss., 1920-1985, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
1200 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
(812) 855-2452
liblilly@indiana.edu