The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the Samuel Schwartz Papers 1940-1997
© 2008 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | Schwartz, Samuel. Papers |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1940-1997 |
| Size: | 4.5 linear feet (7 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | Dr. Samuel Schwartz (1916-1997) was a renowned expert on porphyrins and heme metabolism, pioneering research into the biological effects of radiation, starting when he joined the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. This collection consists of 4.5 linear feet of his research materials, political activist writings, his concerns about nuclear warfare, and his personal writings. The largest part of the collection contains his research papers and drafts of journal articles with his notes and data. This includes his time during the Manhattan Project (University of Chicago), when he researched the effects of radiation on metalloporphyrins. There is a large section on Schwartz’s political activism, both for Zionism and for nuclear disarmament. Other material in the collection documents Schwartz’s personal life, his interest in birds of prey, and literary aspirations, including poetry and songs. |
Open for research. No restrictions
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Schwartz, Samuel. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
Samuel Schwartz was born April 13, 1916 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Russian immigrants. He earned both a B.S. (1938) and a M.D. (1943) from the University of Minnesota, where he spent most of his academic career. Schwartz was a pioneering worker in biomedical studies, especially involving the biological effects of radiation and metals. His contributions to the field of medicine are found in several tests, such as the “Watson-Schwartz Test,” the “HemoQuant Test,” and pioneering research into radiation diagnoses and treatment for diseases.
Schwartz began working on porphyrins (macrocycle, or macromolecule with rings of atoms) and bile pigments while washing glassware dishes in his freshman year at the University of Minnesota in 1934 under Dr. Cecil. J. Watson. His work in porphyrin metabolism, essential molecules that bind metals, such as hemoglobin in the blood, led him to developing a test for acute intermittent porphyria, an inherited defect that causes abdominal pain and neurological disturbances.
In 1943, Schwartz was invited by Dr. Watson to move to Chicago to work on a secret Army Project. Originally believing that his lab would be studying malaria, he became a group leader over twenty-five investigators in the Manhattan Project (University of Chicago) working on the biological effects of radiation and metals from 1943-1946. During his work for the Manhattan Project he devised a new test for uranium contamination in urine and feces which was more sensitive than any other test in the period.
Schwartz then moved on to a two year Fellowship, eventually ending up in Copenhagen as a visiting professor until 1948, when he returned to the University of Minnesota. Schwartz conducted research on photophoresis, where intense light can induce motion in particles suspended in a gas, and on lead poisoning in humans and birds (Schwartz was an avid bird watcher). He also developed the HemoQuant Test, which led to the earlier detection of colorectal carcinoma.
Dr. Samuel Schwartz was recognized as an expert on porphyrin and heme metabolism, publishing numerous scientific papers and receiving US Public Health Service research career award. He was also a member of the American Society of Biology and Chemistry, American Society of Clinical Investigation, American Association of Cancer Research, and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. In addition to his academic work, Schwartz was also a poet, singer, and political and conservation activist, publishing and speaking on behalf of the state of Israel and for bird conservatories. He died on December 5, 1997 in Minneapolis due to complications from lymphoma at the age of eighty-one.
This collection documents Schwartz’s research, political activism, and personal life. It is arranged into four series.
Series I: Research, contains Schwartz’s work on the biological effects of radiation and porphyrin and heme metabolism. This includes article offprints, Schwartz’s own data and research notes, some of his own publications, and correspondence on biomedical topics. This series has been divided into two subseries to distinguish topics: Subseries 1: Manhattan Project, contains the research Schwartz conducted while attached to the Manhattan Project (University of Chicago). This includes mostly data and articles relating to radiation and metal effects on the body. Subseries 2: Biomedical, contains the rest of Schwartz’s research endeavors, mostly focusing on porphyrins. This includes article offprints, lab notes, correspondence, and lab data. Both subseries have been arranged chronologically.
Series II: Nuclear Politics, contains Schwartz’s thoughts and collections on the rising tensions of nuclear warfare during the Cold War. Schwartz agreed with Einstein that atomic energy meant the only possibility of survival for humans was an eventual world community and disarmament, and the articles contained in this collection reflect that, as well as the paranoia of the outbreak of a nuclear war. This series contains mostly article offprints from various journals during the Cold War, as well as an essay written by Einstein on his proposals for how to solve or manage the nuclear crisis. This series has been arranged chronologically.
Series III: Judaism, contains Schwartz's writings on Zionism and the Jewish life. This includes sermons, poems, and other writings about the way the Jewish community should live in the world, and his hopes for the state of Israel. This series has been arranged chronologically.
Series IV: Personal, contains Schwartz’s personal writings, biographical material, and funeral record. This includes his poetry, a play that he acted in, articles on avian conservation and his personal life philosophy as written to his children. This series has been arranged chronologically.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html
Fermi, Enrico. Collection
Series I: Research |
Series I contains Schwartz's work on the biological effects of radiation and porphyrin and heme metabolism including article offprints, research notes, and correspondence. This series has been divided into two subseries: Subseries 1: Manhattan Project, which ranges from 1943-1946 (and some later research based on his Manhattan Project work); and Subseries 2: Biomedical, from 1934-1990. Both subseries have been arranged chronologically.
Subseries 1: Manhattan Project, contains Schwartz's work on the biological effects of radiation and metals while at the Manhattan Project (University of Chicago). This contains article offprints, handwritten and typed notes, as well as declassified experimental materials.
Subseries 2: Biomedical, contains Schwartz's work on porphyrins and heme metabolism while at the University of Minnesota and Copenhagen. This includes lab data, handwritten and typed notes, article offprints, and correspondence.
Subseries 1: Manhattan Project |
| Box 1 Folder 1 | Metallurgical Laboratory contract, 1943 |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | Notes on isomers, handwritten notes, 1943-1945 |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Group employee listings, 1943-1945 |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | Manhattan Project article and data reprints, 1943-1946 |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Personnel requests, correspondence, 1944-1945 |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Uranium-urine analysis, article reprint, 1945 |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | "Idiopathic Coproporphyrinuria," draft, charts, notes, 1945 |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Dog blood biochemistry studies, correspondence, data, 1945 |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | "The Atom Speaks," poem about involvement in Manhattan Project, 1946 |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | "Radiation-Induced Changes in Ultraviolet Absorption Spectra of Urine," article reprint, 1946 |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | "Preparation of Morphologically Intact Leucocytes from Peripheral Blood," article reprints, 1946 |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | Effects of radiation and metal exposure on liver function, article drafts, handwritten notes, 1946 |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | "A Note on the Use of Ion Exchange Resins for the Purification of Urinary Purines, Kynurenic Acid, and Coproporphyrin," article draft, 1946 |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Uranium toxicity literature, article reprint, 1946 |
| Box 2 Folder 7 | "Biochemical Studies Related to the Effects of Radiation and Metals," photo-duplicate, 1947 |
| Box 2 Folder 8 | Minneapolis Morning Tribune article on Schwartz's radiation research, 1950 |
| Box 2 Folder 9 | "Uranium Excretion Studes," article reprints, 1951 |
| Box 2 Folder 10 | Studies of porphyrin metabolism, article reprint, 1956 |
| Box 2 Folder 11 | "The War Years," article draft, ca. late 1950's |
| Box 2 Folder 12 | Argonne National Laboratory Reviews, research on nuclear fission, 1964 |
Subseries 2: Biomedical |
| Box 3 Folder 1 | "A Method of Separating Small Quantities of the Coproporphyrin Isomers 1 and 3," article reprints, 1940 |
| Box 3 Folder 2 | Conversion of protoporphyrin to coproporphyrin by the liver, article reprints, 1941 |
| Box 3 Folder 3 | "Isolation of Uroporphyrin from the Feces in Idiopathic Porphyria," article reprints, 1941 |
| Box 3 Folder 4 | "A Simple Test for Urinary Porphobilinogen," article reprints, 1941 |
| Box 3 Folder 5 | "Isolation of a Dextrorotatory Urobilin from Human Fistula Bile," article reprints, 1942 |
| Box 3 Folder 6 | Hospitals of the University of Minnesota bulletin, written presentation on porphyria by Samuel Schwartz, 1942 |
| Box 3 Folder 7 | "Studies of Urobilinogen," article reprints, 1944 |
| Box 3 Folder 8 | Conversion of hematin to bilirubin, article reprints, 1945 |
| Box 3 Folder 9 | "Studies of the Uroporphyrins," parts 1 and 2, article reprints, 1945 |
| Box 3 Folder 10 | Lab data logbook, 1945-1946 |
| Box 3 Folder 11 | "Studies of Urobilinogen," part 6, article reprints, 1947 |
| Box 3 Folder 12 | Isolation of leukocytes, article reprint, 1947 |
| Box 3 Folder 13-15 | Copenhagen studies, data books 1-3, 1948 |
| Box 4 Folder 1 | Data book, C.R. Evertz, 1948 |
| Box 4 Folder 2 | Newspaper clippings on cancer research, photocopies, 1950-1955 |
| Box 4 Folder 3 | Porphyrin poem, written as part of a presentation, 1961 |
| Box 4 Folder 4 | Session chairman's remarks at New York Academy of Sciences conference, 1973 |
| Box 4 Folder 5 | Poems for Gordon Conference presentation, 1974 |
| Box 4 Folder 6 | Songs about the Diehl Hall Laboratory and medicine, 1978 |
| Box 4 Folder 7 | Job fair notes, 1989 |
| Box 4 Folder 8 | "Porphyrins, Radiation, and Tumor Therapy," talk given at meeting of the International Photodynamic Association, 1990 |
| Box 4 Folder 9 | "Tricks and Treats, Intriguing Goals for Pyrroles," talk at the Gordon Conference, 1990 |
| Box 4 Folder 10 | "Chasing after the Crucial Experiment," talk given at Samuel Schwartz Day, 1990 |
| Box 5 Folder 1 | Data logs, 1948-1949 |
Series II: Nuclear Politics |
Series II contains Schwartz's thoughts and collections on nuclear policy during the Cold War. Most of these detail the effects of nuclear explosions on human bodies or on large population centers. This series contains mostly article offprints from various journals during the Cold War, as well as an essay written by Einstein on his proposals for how to solve or manage the nuclear crisis. This series has been arranged chronologically.
| Box 6 Folder 1 | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists of Chicago, reprints, December, 1945-September, 1946 |
| Box 6 Folder 2 | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists of Chicago, reprints, October, 1946-May, 1947 |
| Box 6 Folder 3 | Spy hysteria, Atomic Information article reprint, 1946 |
| Box 6 Folder 4 | "Only Then Shall We Find Courage," essay by Albert Einstein, 1946 |
| Box 6 Folder 5 | Russell-Einstein Manifesto, photocopy, 1955 |
| Box 6 Folder 6 | "Friends, Please Forgive Us," photocopied story by Japanese survivor of Hiroshima, undated |
| Box 6 Folder 7 | Literature on nuclear weapons and nuclear policy, article photocopies, 1961-1980 |
| Box 6 Folder 8 | Literature on nuclear weapons and nuclear policy, article photocopies, 1981 |
| Box 6 Folder 9 | Literature on nuclear weapons and nuclear policy, article photocopies, 1982 |
| Box 6 Folder 10 | Literature on nuclear weapons and nuclear policy, article photocopies, article offprint, 1983-1985 |
Series III: Judaism |
Series III contains Schwartz's writings on Zionism and Judaism, including sermons and poems about Judaism's place in the world and his hopes for the state of Israel. This series has been arranged chronologically.
| Box 7 Folder 1 | Transcript of talk given at Midwest Conference of Reformed Synagogue Youth on the state of Israel, ca. 1950 |
| Box 7 Folder 2 | "My Philosophy of Life," presented at Carleton College, transcript, 1956 |
| Box 7 Folder 3 | Correspondence, American Professors for Peace in the Middle East, 1970 |
| Box 7 Folder 4 | Sermon, "Understanding our Blessings," 1970 |
| Box 7 Folder 5 | Notes, sermons, brochures, 1970-1971 |
| Box 7 Folder 6 | Sermon, "The 'Morality' of Atoms and Man," transcript, 1971 |
| Box 7 Folder 7 | "Origins and Philosophies of Zionism," article draft, 1976 |
| Box 7 Folder 8 | Sermon, "The Cell Plays Hide and Seek," 1976 |
| Box 7 Folder 9-11 | "Thoughts on a National Council," drafts, 1977-1979 |
| Box 7 Folder 12 | Sermon, "Renewal, Research, and Religion," 1991 |
| Box 7 Folder 13 | Sermon on revolutions and freedom, 1992 |
| Box 7 Folder 14 | Sermon on the meaning of life, 1994 |
Series IV: Personal |
Series IV contains Schwartz's personal writings such as poems and plays, biographical material, and funeral record. It also includes information on avian conservation and his personal life philosophy, as written to his children. This series has been arranged chronologically.
| Box 7 Folder 15 | Correspondence, 1942-1997 |
| Box 7 Folder 16 | Program for play, "Porphyria Jones," script, photograph, 1943 |
| Box 7 Folder 17 | Biographic material, photographs, curriculum vitae, awards, funeral proceedings, 1943-1997 |
| Box 7 Folder 18 | The Journal of Irreproducible Results, journal copy, 1969 |
| Box 7 Folder 19 | Church bulletin, 1971 |
| Box 7 Folder 20 | New Poets Anthology, article offprint, 1973 |
| Box 7 Folder 21 | Alumni Quarterly, article offprint, 1985 |
| Box 7 Folder 22 | "Samuel Schwartz Day" proceedings, talks, invitations, slides, 1990 |
| Box 7 Folder 23 | Raptor conservatory literature, 1991-1992 |
| Box 7 Folder 24 | Favorite quotations, 1992 |
| Box 7 Folder 25 | Newspaper clippings, 1997 |
| Box 7 Folder 26 | Short story, draft, undated
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