The History of Molecular Biology Collection spans 51 linear feet and documents key milestones in the development of molecular biology, including the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. The collection features materials from prominent scientists such as Rosalind Franklin, Sydney Brenner, Francis Crick, James Watson, Max Delbrück, Aaron Klug, Linus and Peter Pauling, Max Perutz, and Maurice Wilkins, among others. These materials illuminate the relationships, dynamics, and contributions of these individuals to the discovery of DNA’s structure. They also provide historical context for related discoveries involving RNA, various viruses, and biologically important proteins.
A portion of the collection has been digitized and is available online.
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin and Jenifer Franklin
Box 10, Folder 13- Circa 1930
Black and white photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) and her younger sister Jenifer Franklin.
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
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4 items
Vacuum desiccator belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- After 1940 – before 1958
Glass chamber for dehydrating samples over a desiccant chemical. Desiccant crystals remain in the bottom lobe of the device. A valve on the side of the upper lobe allows a vacuum to be attached. After being used by…
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83 items
Sven Furberg's notebook, June 1947-1950
Box 12, Folder 32- 1947-Jun – 1950
Laboratory notebook belonging to Sven Furberg (1920-1983). Furberg was a chemist and crystallographer who first proposed a helical structure for DNA in 1948. The original paper models of DNA are shown in the back of…
- Creator Of Work Furberg, Sven, 1920-1983
- Subject Birkbeck College, Furberg, Sven, 1920-1983, Laboratory notebooks, DNA
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6 items
44/54 Darmstadt logarithmic slide rule belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- 1950s
Wooden slide rule belonging to molecular biologist, Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), used to calculate logarithmic functions.
Frankin's initials, R. E. F., are written on the right-hand side of the rule.
- Manufacturer Faber-Castell (Firm)
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Slide-rule, Logarithms, Logarithmic functions, Molecular biology
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6 items
File box belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- 1950s
File box belonging to Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958). The box is labeled "REF Reprints. DNA Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, 21. Misc. Nos 32 (no copies) Faraday Soc."
The file box has a gray-blue fabric spine with a leather pull.…
- Manufacturer Philip Poole & Co., Ltd.
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Office equipment and supplies, DNA
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2 items
Letter from Rosalind Franklin to Aaron Klug, July 30, 1956
Box 7, Folder 25- 1950s
Letter from Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) to Aaron Klug (1926-2018) discussing the Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus.
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin in Italy
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation in , Italy. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950. Poster behind Franklin says…
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on a mountain range
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on vacation
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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2 items
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on vacation
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin on vacation
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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2 items
Photographs of Rosalind Franklin in Tuscany, Italy, 1950.
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950
Photograph of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) taken while on vacation in Tuscany, Italy. The photo was taken by her close friend and collaborator, Vittorio Luzzati (1923-2016), in the Spring of 1950.
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photograph of Rosalind Franklin sitting at a table
Box 10, Folder 14- 1950-Jul
- Photographer Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Luzzati, Vittorio, 1923-2016
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Photostat image of DNA X-ray diffraction image by Elwyn Beighton (1951)
Box 10, Folder 17- 1951
Photostat (early photocopy) reproduction of an X-ray diffraction image of DNA. The original image was taken in 1951 at the University of Leeds, UK by Elwyn Beighton under the supervision of William Astbury (1898-1961).…
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189 items
Raymond Gosling's notebook, circa 1951-1953
Box 13, Folder 32- Circa 1951 – circa 1953
Notebook belonging to Raymond G. Gosling (1926-2015) documenting work done in collaboration with Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958).
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Acetate film negative containing X-Ray diffraction images of A-form and B-form DNA
- Photo 42 and Photo 51
Box 10, Folder 16- Circa 1952
Rectangular piece of acetate film containing negative images of two X-ray diffraction patterns of DNA. Both images were created by Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) and Raymond Gosling (1926-2015) at King’s College London…
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Envelope labeled "Negative for Slide. Prints of D.N.A. Structure 'B' Best Photographs"
Box 10, Folder 17- 1952
- Creator Of Work Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958
- Subject DNA, DNA--Structure, Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Gosling, R. G. (Raymond George), 1926-2015, Chemists, Women chemists
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19 items
Francis Crick's laboratory notebook, 1952
Box 1, Folder 11- 1952
Laboratory notebook titled, "Experiments to Determine if Any Attraction Between Pairs of Nucleic Acid Bases," kept by Francis Crick (1916-2004) while working at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit of the Cavendish…
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3 items
Group photograph at King's College London, 1952
Box 13, Folder 29- 1952
Black and white photograph taken at King's College in London. The people identified in the photograph are Maurice F. Wilkins (1916-2004), William Seeds (1922-1992), Robert Donald "Bruce" Fraser (1924-2019), Mary Fraser,…
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2 items
Group photograph at King's College London, 1952
Box 13, Folder 29- 1952
Black and white photograph taken at King's College in London. The people identified are John T. Randall (1905-1984), Raymond G. Gosling (1926-2015), Robert Donald "Bruce" Fraser (1924-2019), and Charles Alfred Coulson…
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3 items
Photograph taken at King's College, 1952
Box 13, Folder 29- 1952
Black and white photograph taken at King's College. The people identified in the photograph are Bill Seeds, Marjorie McEwen (1897-1987), Raymond G. Gosling (1926-2015), and John T. Randall (1905-1984).
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Mock D.N.A. Helix Funeral Invitation
Box 10, Folder 4- 1952-Jul-18
Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) and Raymond G. Gosling (1926-2015) wrote a satirical "death notice" announcing the death of DNA's helical structure. The notecard was intended as a prank for their colleague Maurice Wilkins…
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2 items
Best Wishes from King's College
Box 13, Folder 24- Circa 1953
Possibly a goodbye card from when Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) left King's College in 1953.
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4 items
Birkbeck College Crystallographic Laboratory 1953 Annual Report
Box 10, Folder 8- 1953-Jan-01 – 1954-Jan-01
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14 items
Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Belgrade, Volume 18
- Гласника хемисног друштва
Box 10, Folder 33- 1953
Bulletin published by the Chemical Society of Belgrade, which includes a lecture given by Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) titled Some Aspects of the Ultra-fine Structure of Coals and Cokes.
