Linus Pauling Letter

Typed Letter Signed, 1 p, November 7, 1955, on California Institute of Technology stationary to John R. Pierce asking about his science fiction writing and mentioning that he had become more interested in the application of chemistry to biology and medicine.  Pauling won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1954 for his work on chemical bonds and he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962. 

Page 2 is a typed carbon of Pierce's reply to Pauling. 

John R. Pierce (1910 - 2002) was a physicist who was director of research at AT & T's Bell Laboratories.  He is frequently referred to as "the father of the communications satellite," and oversaw Bell Labs Telstar project, but he may be best known for having invented the word "transistor."

Under the name J.J. Coupling, he wrote for Astounding Science Fiction, principally publishing science fact articles; he also wrote a few science fiction stories.