Rosalind Franklin (44 page)

‘extremely excellent. . . try our luck': JDW to Max Delbruck, 20 May 1952, in Olby, op. cit., pp. 367-8.

‘interest whetted': ibid., p. 378.

‘the cylindrical Patterson function': Olby, ‘Rosalind Elsie Franklin',
Dictionary of Scientific Biography,
pp. 3:39-42.

‘As Rosalind was necessarily involved': Dorothy Hodgkin to David Sayre, 7 Jan. 1975, ASA.

‘I'm afraid we always': FHCC in Judson, op. cit., p. 141.

‘a pathetic place': RF to AS and David Sayre, 2 Jun. 1952, ASA.

‘I do not know': Katarina Kranjc to AS, 24 Mar. 1970, ASA.

‘They all spoke French': Prof. Dr D. Grdenic to AS, II May 1970, ASA.

‘They reckon': RF to AS and David Sayre, 2 Jun. 1952, ASA.

‘all too good': ibid.

‘The pure sodium salt': ‘The New Physics and Engineering Laboratories', King's College London pamphlet issued for the opening ceremony by the Lord Cherwell, FRS, 27 Jun. 1952.

‘the most beautiful buildings': Watson, op. cit., p. 28.

‘the most attractive site': J.D. Watson,
A Passion for DNA,
p. 21.

‘two pitchmen': E. Chargaff in Judson, op. cit., p. 144.

‘had to go': Dr Lewis Wolpert in ‘The Dark Lady', BBC Radio 4, 27 Feb. 1987, said that Rosalind was asked to leave King's.

‘continue to study': I.C. Maxwell to JTR, I Jul. 1952, CAC.

‘banana-shaped': RF notebooks, ‘banana-shaped peaks'.

‘buried in paper': JC interview with W.R. Seeds, 4 Jun. 1985.

‘We spent
ages.
. .
tell
us the structure': author's interview with RG, 19 Oct. 1999.

‘Rubbish!': author's interview with AK, 6 Jul. 1999, and KCH to JC, 23 Jun. 1985.

‘By the time': RG in Chomet, op. cit., p. 68.

‘It is with great regret': RF and RG, ‘Death of a Helix', in Judson, op. cit., p. 144.

‘At no time': RG to JTR, 15 Aug. 1972, CAC.

‘Stokes later admitted': JC interview with A. Stokes, 21 Jun. 1985.

‘Why not ask': H.R. Wilson, ‘The double helix and all that', p. 276.

‘Colleagues at King's': JC interview with W.R. Seeds, 4 Jun. 1985; JC interview with RG, 24 Jun. 1985.

‘She was a very powerful personality': author's interview with Pauline Cowan, 26 Jul. 2000.

‘woollen underwear': LP to PP, 22 Oct. 1952, PA.

‘Mama wants to know': LP to PP, 22 Oct. 1952, PA.

‘full of French girls': PP to LP, 28 Oct. 1952 , PA.

‘Stranded whales': PP to L and AHP, 13 Jan. 1953, PA.

‘with certainty': RF, in MRC report, 5 Dec. 1952, p. 8, PRO FDI/7102 66670.

‘lunch . . . tea': PRO FDI/7102, 29 Dec. 1952.

‘Salisbury is now satisfied': memo, Sir Harold Himsworth, 20 Dec. 1952 PRO FDI/7102 66670; not marked ‘Confidential', Sir H.P. Himsworth to MP, 12 Jul. 1968, JNC.

 

TWELVE
Eureka and Goodbye

‘Rosy, of course': J.D. Watson,
The Double Helix,
p. 105.

‘splendid X-ray photographs': R. Corey to RF, 13 Apr. 1953, in Olby, op. cit., p. 396.

‘The stage reached': A. Klug, ‘Rosalind Franklin and the Discovery . . .', pp. 808-10, 843-4; reprinted in Watson, op. cit., p. 156.

‘You know how children': PP to LP, 13 Jan. 1953, PA.

‘Second sunny day': PP to LP, early 1953 , PA.

‘I guess': ‘Why Pauling didn't solve the structure of DNA', Jim Lake, letter to
Nature, I
Feb. 2001, Vol. 409.

‘the A form of the molecule was not helical': Wilson,
TIBS
13, 7, p. 277.

‘Here's the Dean': Author's interview with Geoffrey and Angela Brown, 10 Feb. 2000.

‘Since the door was already': Watson, op. cit., p. 95.

‘not in the least': Carlisle, op. cit., p. 40.

‘I was more aware': Watson, op. cit., p. 96.

‘She nearly terrified': author's interview with Sir John Cadogan.

‘She complained to a friend': author's interview with Dr Simon Altmann, 19 Jan. 1999; letters to author 23 Jun. 2000 and 4 and 5 Mar. 2001. Because Altmann returned to Argentina between early 1952 and the spring of 1953, he cannot place the date when she told him of her suspicions that someone had gone through her desk.

‘they should have protected her': ibid.

‘three papers': LP to PP, 10 Mar. 1953, PA.

‘relatively free': R. Franklin and R. Gosling, ‘Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate', pp. 740-1; Watson, op. cit., p. 254.

‘she had made a similar lunge': J.D. Watson, ibid., p. 96.

‘She's got a very good B': author's interview with MW.

‘Maurice had a perfect right': author's interview with RG; also F.H.C. Crick letter to author, 12 Apr. 2000: ‘It seems to me Maurice did nothing wrong in showing the photo to Jim.'

‘The instant I saw': Watson, op. cit., p. 98.

‘Francis would have to agree': ibid., p. 99.

‘According to Crick': Judson, op. cit., p. 167.

‘We missed out': author's interview with H.R. Wilson, 17 Aug. 2000.

‘Why not': F.H.C. Crick,
What Mad Pursuit?,
p. 70.

‘I will tell you all': Olby, op. cit., p. 401, based on MW to FHCC 1953.

‘I was inexperienced': M. Perutz, letter to
Science,
27 Jun. 1969, pp. 1537-58, reprinted in Watson, op. cit., p. 209. Perutz's large archive of gathered evidence that the report was not confidential is in the JNC. It shows how stung Perutz, a highly ethical man, was by the charge.

‘RF Notes for Feb. 23 1953': CAC.

‘The nucleic acids': L. Pauling and R. Corey, ‘A Proposed Structure for the Nucleic Acids', pp. 84-97.

‘tight squeeze': LP to PP, 18 or 19 Feb. 1953, PA.

‘enol was
out':
Jerry Donohue to Judson, 5 Mar. 1976, HFJA.

‘Nearly home': A. Klug in Judson, op. cit., pp. 172-3.

‘Base interchangeability': A. Klug, ‘Rosalind Franklin and the Discovery of the Structure of DNA', pp. 808-10, 843-4, reprinted in Watson, op. cit., p. 157.

‘It is easy to feel': Judson, op. cit., p. 172.

‘Francis winged': Watson, op. cit., p. I15.

‘Let's face it': J. Donohue to Judson, 5 Mar. 1976, HFJA.

‘Morris Wilkins': PP to LP, 14 Mar. 1953 , PA.

‘I think you will be interested': MW to FHCC, ‘Saturday', 7 Mar. 1953, in Olby, op. cit., p. 414.

‘I felt the model
as such
was their work': Callander, p. 16.

‘I told
everybody':
author's conversation with MW.

‘I'm not wanted': JC interview with Freda Ticehurst Collier, 31 May 1985.

 

THIRTEEN
Escaping Notice

‘‘The model was so beautiful': author's conversation with JDW, 5 Jan. 2002.

‘of not working': Olby, op. cit., p. 368.

‘I think you're a couple': MW to FHCC, 18 Mar. 1953, in Olby, op. cit., pp. 417-18.

‘being a trifle awkward': ibid.

‘we rather stopped him': ibid.

‘like a scalded rat': JC interview with W.R Seeds, 4 Jun. 1985.

‘quite upset': JC interview with RG, 24 Jun. 1985.

‘everyone': JC interview with Anthony and Margaret North, 11 Apr. 1985.

‘Had it': Jerry Donohue to AS, 19 Dec. 1975, ASA.

‘Get writing!': author's interview with RG.

‘cabled': Bruce Fraser to author, 10 Feb. 2000.

‘in the press': J.D. Watson and F.H.C. Crick, ‘A Structure for Deoxyribonucleic Acid', pp. 737-8; Watson, op. cit., pp. 237-41. Crick thought Fraser's model ‘feeble', FHCC to author, 9 Jan. 2002.

‘the following communications': Watson and Crick, op. cit.

‘obvious': FHCC to author, 16 Dec. 2001; HFJ on MP to author, 16 Dec. 2001, and RG to author, 30 Dec. 2001.

‘Delete
very beautiful':
MW to FHCC, 18 Mar. 1953, in Olby, op. cit., p. 418.

‘Thus our general ideas': R. Franklin and R. Gosling, ‘Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate', pp. 740-1; Watson, op. cit., p. 256.

‘It has not escaped': J.D. Watson and F.H.C. Crick, ‘A Structure for Deoxyribonucleic Acid', p. 737.

‘Where's Rosalind?': author's interview with Freda Ticehurst Collier, 14 Dec. 1999.

‘You will no doubt': JTR to RF, 17 Apr. 1953, CAC.

‘Science differs': W. Gratzer,
The Oxford Book of Scientific Anecdote.

 

FOURTEEN
The Acid Next Door
‘to get her assistance': JDB to A. Tattersall, 1953, FRNK 2/31, CAC.

‘in the principles of the arts': R. Furth, ‘The Physics Department of Birkbeck College', p. 150.

‘discourses on the Cretan Renaissance': C.P. Snow,
The Search,
Part III, Chapter II, pp. 180-1.

‘eulogised Stalin': B. Swann and F. Aprahamian,
J.D. Bernal,
p. 151.

‘It took over the': Carlisle, op. cit., p. 20; also Furth, op. cit., p. 153.

‘becoming unbalanced': J.F. Lockwood to JDB, Sep. 7 1954.

‘Who Have Not': author's interview with Dr Wolfie Traub, 20 Jul. 1999. I am indebted to Traub for this anecdote, confirmed in an e-mail to author, 26 Jul. 1999.

‘one of his recruits': author's interview with Dr John Mason, 22 Oct. 2001.

‘to get her assistance': JDB to A. Tattersall, 1953, FRNK 2/31, CAC.

‘Randall's ban': JTR to RF, 17 Apr. 1953, FRNK 13, CAC.

‘I am deeply': R. Gosling, ‘Abstract of Thesis submitted by R.G. Gosling for the PhD Examination'.

‘the perfect front': Watson, op. cit., p. 67.

‘because if ‘: FHCC to RF, 5 Jun. 1953, CAC.

‘over my head': Jacob, op. cit., p. 265.

‘baloney as well': G. Stent to author, 27 Jan. 2000.

‘un-twiddle-ase': JC interview with RG, 24 Jun. 1985.

‘I'm Watson': this ditty, ‘Up the Krick with Watson' by E.S. Anderson, curiously spells Crick as ‘Krick', a nicety inaudible to the audience at the Cold Spring Harbor Symposium in 1953, HFJA.

‘And they're neutered': author's interview with Dr June Goodfield, 29 Feb. 2001.

‘He did not know what ‘‘helical'' meant': S. Furberg to Judson, 16 Mar. 1976, HFJA.

‘an almost simultaneous': J.D. Bernal, ‘The Material Theory of Life', p. 325.

‘She makes my clock work': Piper, op. cit., p. 153.

‘I find it hard': RF to MF, 8 Aug. 1953.

‘be tempted': RF to MF, 21 Aug. 1953.

‘I can sympathise': RF to parents, I Sep. 1953.

‘I think it shook': Irene Neuner to Anne Sayre, 22 Jan. 1974, ASA.

‘The only ‘‘restaurant'' ‘: RF to parents, 1953.

‘I had been more than adequately': RF to MF, 21 Aug. 1953.

‘Ros wouldn't know': author's interview with UR, 20 Jan. 1999.

‘why had she never married': Neuner to Anne Sayre, 22 Jan. 1974, ASA.

‘wonderful': RF to parents, 9 Sep. 1953.

‘one of the cameras': JDB to JTR, 18 Oct. 1953, CAC.

‘We do in fact': JTR to RF, 4 Nov. 1953, CAC.

‘the tobacco mosaic virus': See
Phil. Trans. Royal Society,
Mar. 1999, p. 521. The entire issue is devoted to the tobacco mosaic virus.

‘getting a virus': information from P. Butler and A. Klug, ‘The Assembly of a Virus'.

‘the way to DNA': Watson, op. cit., p. 75.

‘For myself ‘: RF to AS and David Sayre, 17 Dec. 1953, ASA.

‘Rosy's Parlour': the programme did not spare Randall either, ‘If you have enjoyed your dinner, spare a copper for St Paul, Friends of St Paul's, The Deanery, St Paul's, EC4.'

 

FIFTEEN
O My America

‘The Gordon organisers': FHCC to RF, 29 Apr. 1954, FRNK, 2/33, CAC.

‘Since leaving': RF to LP, 1954, PA.

‘similar work': RF to Prof. Pollard. 13 Apr. 1954, CAC.

‘There is considerable objection': A.C. Fieldner to J.W. Garland, 24 Feb. 1954, CAC.

‘One would see': Martyn Pease to author, 6 Mar. 2000.

‘Julian Alps': Dusan Hazi to author, 2 Nov. 1999.

‘Stopped one hour': RF to MF, ‘Prestwick, Saturday 2 a.m.', 1954.

‘of America as having trees': RF to CF and Charlotte Franklin, 1954.

‘actually a University': RF to MF, 31 Aug. 1954.

‘if she should tip': author's interview with Alex and Jane Rich, 17 Apr. 1999.

‘a family of summer residents': Barbara Little to author, 24 May 2000.

‘the bemused look of an English poet': J.D. Watson,
Genes, Girls and Gamow,
p. 88.

‘that she had been judged': ibid., pp. 94-5.

‘which I was beginning': RF to CF and Charlotte Franklin, 31 Aug. 1954.

‘uncivilised and rude': RF to MF, 14 Sep. 1954.

‘I'm also astonished': RF to CF and Charlotte Franklin, 31 Aug. 1954.

‘Here, apart from hurricanes': ibid.

‘My lab visits': RF to MF, 15 Sep. 1954.

‘Pittsburg is as black': RF to MF, ‘State College', 14 Sep. 1954.

‘a comedy': RF to MF 24 Sep. 1954.

‘The front door': RF to MF, Wisconsin, postmark 23 Sep. Chicago, 1954.

‘In their museums': RF to MF, 14 Sep. 1954.

‘the Indians as a tourist attraction': RF to parents, Sep. 1954.

‘The oldest influence': RF to MF, 3 Oct. 1954.

‘about 25 miles': RF to parents, re: Pasadena.

‘A less successful outing': Sydney Brenner to author, 24 Jan. 2000.

‘the first unfriendly': RF to parents.

‘Watson and I': F.H.C. Crick, ‘The Structure of the Hereditary Material'. Another very subdued acknowledgement to her crucial part in the great discovery appeared in the Watson-Crick article in mid-1954 in the
Proceedings of the Royal Academy.