Subseries 1.4 Miscellaneous Correspondence, 17 March-26 April 1921

Sub-Series — Box: 1, Folder: 6

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: This collection, spanning 1920 to 1923, consists of letters sent to William J. Taylor and carbon copies of his replies. The correspondence documents Marie Curie's visit to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia on 23 May 1921. Much of the correspondence in the collection is between Taylor and Robert Abbe (1851-1928). Abbe, who lived in New York City, was an Associate Fellow of the College of Physicians and was largely responsible for arranging Marie Curie's visit. The letters between Abbe and Taylor fully document the event, from the initial planning stages to the actual visit. Included in the correspondence are descriptions of Curie's itinerary, which Taylor thought far too demanding, and reports about the success of her visit. Abbe's letters also discuss the display case he purchased for the College. The "Abbe Cabinet" was designed to hold 'the items that Abbe had donated, including Benjamin Rush's watch, and items belonging to Lister and Pasteur, The letters also document Abbe's attempt to obtain an electrometer used by Pierre and Marie Curie during their early experimentation with radium; Abbe provides a sketch of the instrument in his letter of 25 April 1921, The electrometer was presented by Marie Curie during her visit to the College and was placed in the Abbe Cabinet in the Ashhurst Room. (Today, the Abbe Cabinet stands in the Hutchinson Alcove.) The honor bestowed on the College by this donation is expressed by Abbe in his letter to Taylor of 22 March 1921: My belief is that in getting this instrument, you will have the only thing of its kind representing that initial radium discovery in our country, and, I doubt whether any other property, so real or so valued will be possible to obtain.

Also present in Series 1 is correspondence between Taylor and officers of the Franklin Institute, including secretary R. B, Owens and President Walton Clark, concerning the invitation list for the special College meeting held in honor of Marie Curie. Series 1 also includes correspondence pertaining to the Marie Curie Radium Fund, a group organized to raise funds for the purchase of radium for Marie Curie, who was in need of radium to continue her research. Robert Abbe and William J. Taylor were both on the Committee of Scientists for this group. Included are letters announcing upcoming meetings, and two letters from Marie M. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Marie Curie Radium Fund, who served as Curie's guide during her visit to Philadelphia.

Included among the miscellaneous correspondence is a draft of Taylor's letter to Marie Curie, thanking her for donating the electrometer to the College; a letter from John S, Muckle, a wealthy Philadelphian, offering the use of his guest rooms for Marie Curie during her visit; and a letter from Taylor to M. Carey Thomas, President of Bryn Mawr College, asking her to speak at the special College meeting held in honor of Curie, Series 2 contains clippings pertaining to Curie's visit to Philadelphia and the activities of the Marie Curie Radium Fund.