Finding Aid to the Joshua Lederberg Papers, 1904-2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary

Biographical/Historical Note

Collection Summary

Administrative Information

Restrictions

Other Descriptive Information

Series Descriptions

Series I: Biography, 1904-1999

Series II: Academic Career, 1925-1999 (bulk 1947-1978)

Series III: Correspondence, 1935-1999
Subseries: CA
Subseries: CB
Subseries: CC
Subseries: CD
Subseries: CE
Subseries: CF
Subseries: Chronological

Series IV: Research, 1941-1999

Series V: Writings, 1941-2001

Series VI: Public Service, 1929-2000

Series VII: Consulting Work, 1948-2000

Series VIII: Calendar Files (Pastcal), 1947-1999

Series IX: Photographs, ca. 1910-2002

Series X: Audiovisual Materials, 1953-2001

Series I: Biography, 1904-1999, 2.5 linear feet

The Biography Series documents Lederberg’s personal life. The series provides insight into Lederberg’s professional and, to a lesser extent, personal development. The bulk of the material covers his education, awards (particularly, the Nobel Prize), autobiographical notes, and biographical information.

The series is divided into six sub-series: Address Cards, Awards and Honors, Bibliographical Material, Biographical and Autobiographical Material, Clippings and Reprints, and Education. Document types found in the series include correspondence, publications (articles, reprints), notebooks, notes, application forms, memoranda, manuscripts, and governmental documents. In each sub-series some documents were left in original order, while other documents were assigned an order by the archivist.

I.1 Address Cards, n.d., .25 linear feet

The Address Cards sub-series contains a group of alphabetized index cards with the addresses of Lederberg’s numerous contacts. The cards are color coded to indicate whether the address was updated. The cards are undated and the accuracy of the individual addresses is unsubstantiated.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by card headings and documents were left in original order.

I.2 Awards and Honors, 1953-1998 (bulk 1958), .50 linear feet

The Awards and Honors sub-series contains material related to Lederberg winning the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1958. The majority of the material takes the form of congratulatory correspondence, press releases, and articles. Lederberg also kept a scrapbook of the events surrounding his winning the award. There is at least one folder that refers to other awards Lederberg received. To see a list of awards and honors please consult the “Selected Awards, Degrees, Memberships, and Other Distinctions” section of this finding aid. Lederberg’s vita, located in the Biographical and Autobiographical Materials sub-series, is also another excellent source of this type of information.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject. Some documents were left in original order, while other documents were assigned an order by the archivist. Material is in both English and French.

I.3 Bibliographical Materials, 1949-1999, .25 linear feet

The Bibliographical Materials sub-series is further divided into three sub-sub-series: Correspondence, Notebooks, and Indices. The sub-series served as a bibliographical source file about a variety of different people and subjects. There are two binders included with this sub-series that contain keyword indices compiled by Lederberg. The binder dated June 8, 1964 is the bibliography for contents of the June 12, 1964 binder according to a note by Lederberg.

Material in the Correspondence sub-sub-series is arranged alphabetically by folder title, while that in the Notebooks and Indices sub-sub-series is arranged chronologically. One folder, “Biography; Bibliographical Materials; Indices; Keyword Index: Publications and Personal References (1964),” is located in an oversize box.

I.4 Biographical and Autobiographical Materials, 1932-1998, .25 linear feet

The Biographical and Autobiographical Materials sub-series contains manuscripts and correspondence discussing Lederberg’s life and work written by him and others. Many of the documents are handwritten drafts.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

I.5 Clippings and Reprints, 1935-1990, .25 linear feet

The Clippings and Reprints sub-series contains articles (which usually included Lederberg as a subject) collected by Lederberg. These articles cover his many research interests such as bacterial recombination, genetic cloning, environmental conservation, and collaborative scientific efforts with his wife.

Folders are arranged chronologically. Material is in English, Italian, and French.

I.6 Education, 1904-1999, 1 linear feet

The Education sub-series chronicles Lederberg’s education from his early years at Stuyvesant High School to his PhD studies at Yale University.

While the bulk of the Joshua Lederberg Papers relates to hard science and public policy, Lederberg did display an artistic flare during his short sojourn at Columbia University’s medical school. Inter-leafed through his gross anatomy notes from 1944 to 1945 are at least two colorful drawings of the nervous systems for human shoulder and arm. Both drawings are well-executed and come complete with color-coding and properly placed labeling. The drawings can be found in the “Education; Columbia University; Courses; Notes; Medical School (1945-1946, 1958)” folder.

There are three sub-sub-series: Stuyvesant High School, Columbia University, and Yale University, each arranged alphabetically by subject. Some documents were left in original order, while other documents were assigned an order by the archivist.

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