Guide to the James B. Sumner Papers,
1908-1958

Collection Number: 29-2-671

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
N. Dean
Date completed:
November 1986
EAD encoding:
Martin Heggestad, May 2004

© 2002 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
James B. Sumner papers, 1908-1958.
Collection Number:
29-2-671
Creator:
James Batcheller Sumner, 1887-1955.
Quantity:
8 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, lecture notes, printed material, photographs, notebooks, ephemera.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Correspondence concerning the organization of biochemical research in Brazil, notes for addresses and lectures, drafts and reprints of articles, graphs, photographs, and slides, the Scheele medal (1929), the gold medal and certificate for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, printed Nobel proceedings, photographs of the ceremony, glass slides made in the course of his research, photographs of fellow scientists, and his chemistry notebook from Harvard. Also, biographical sketches, notes, clippings, and related correspondence used by Professor Leonard A. Maynard in preparation of his memoir of Sumner.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Laboratory of Enzyme Chemistry at Cornell University.
Sumner won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946 for the crystallizations of the enzyme urease.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Correspondence concerning the organization of biochemical research in Brazil, notes for addresses and lectures, drafts and reprints of articles, graphs, photographs, and slides, the Scheele medal (1929), the gold medal and certificate for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, printed Nobel proceedings, photographs of the ceremony, glass slides made in the course of his research, photographs of fellow scientists from Cornell and elsewhere, and his chemistry notebook from Harvard. Also, biographical sketches, notes, clippings, and related correspondence used by Professor Leonard A. Maynard in preparation of his memoir of Sumner, published in 1958 by the National Academy of Sciences.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Sumner, James Batcheller, 1887-1955.
Maynard, Leonard Amby, 1887-1972.

Subjects:
Biochemistry.
Enzymes.
Urease.
Nobel prizes.
Biochemists.
College teachers.

Form and Genre Terms:
Photographs.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
James B. Sumner papers, #29-2-671. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
Correspondence, research notes
1946-1958
Sumner Biography - NAS from L.A. Maynard
 Box 1 Folder 1
Jan. 21, 1952
Short Autobiography of J.B. Sumner for Rochester U. talk
 Box 1 Folder 2
1954-1955
Corres. Director Acton, Rudolph P. [Univ. Program-Brazil]
 Box 1 Folder 3
1953-1954
Misc. Corres. concerning Brazil
 Box 1 Folder 4
1954
Corres. Brazilian General Consulate
 Box 1 Folder 5
1951
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Henry Allen Moe, Secretary General
 Box 1 Folder 6
1953-1954
Corres. Rockefeller Foundation, Prof. J. Baeta Vianna
 Box 1 Folder 7
1954
Corres. Secretary General Ansio Teixeira
 Box 1 Folder 8
Introducing C.B. Van Niel
 Box 1 Folder 9
Messenger Lectures
 Box 1 Folder 10
Nobel Prize Regulations
 Box 1 Folder 11
Appointments by Cornell University
 Box 1 Folder 12
Determination of Coenzyme I by O2 used up
 Box 1 Folder 13
Coenzyme I
 Box 1 Folder 14
Coenzyme I Determination
 Box 1 Folder 15
Further Purification of Coenzyme I
 Box 1 Folder 16
Phosphorus % in Coenzyme I
 Box 1 Folder 17
Pentose Determination in Coenzyme I
 Box 1 Folder 18
Estimation of Coenzyme I
 Box 1 Folder 19
Football Protein Method of Preparation, A.L. Dounce
 Box 1 Folder 20
Third Liver Protein (Footballs)
 Box 1 Folder 21
Liver Catalase
 Box 1 Folder 22
Football Protein
 Box 1 Folder 23
1929
Glutathione Hopkins J. Biol. Chem., 84, 267
 Box 1 Folder 24
Methods of Enzymology, Edited by Colowick & Cohen
 Box 1 Folder 25
Lycopene Prep. from tomato
 Box 1 Folder 26
Byxin Prep. of crystalline byxin from annatto
 Box 1 Folder 26
Lipoxidase old note
 Box 1 Folder 27
Chapter on Enzymes for Hawk, 13th Edition
 Box 1 Folder 28
Lipoxidase, J.D. Loconti
 Box 1 Folder 29
A.D.P. Preparation
 Box 1 Folder 30
Method for Blood Count
 Box 1 Folder 31
1. Cori ester synthesis
 Box 1 Folder 32
2. Formation of starch from cori ester
 Box 1 Folder 32
3. Preparation of phosphorylase - pages rewritten for Hawk
 Box 1 Folder 32
The Antigenic Properties of the Hemagglutinin, Concanavalin A
 Box 1 Folder 33
Progress Report, Dr. Eric Borel, "Succinic Dehydrogenase"
 Box 1 Folder 34
Van Buren, Progress Reports
 Box 1 Folder 35
Fluoridation
 Box 1 Folder 36
1954
Progress Report, Dr. Herr "Lipase," through Apr. 3, 1954
 Box 1 Folder 37
Mechanism of Encyme Action
 Box 1 Folder 38
Ferriten from Horse Liver Catalase Preparation
 Box 1 Folder 39
Starch, Amylase Preparation
 Box 1 Folder 40
Evaporated Milk Co., Milk Proteins, H.S. Sipple
 Box 1 Folder 41
Mechanism of Insulin Action
 Box 1 Folder 42
Copper Det. 1. Tompsett Method 2.
 Box 1 Folder 43
Phosphylase Calculation of units
 Box 1 Folder 44
Analysis of Phosphocreatine - Calculated 0.200% P. - Found 0.191% P.
 Box 1 Folder 45
1926, 1947-1948
[Loose corres. Donald D. Van Slyke, Edward L. Gordy, Wilder D. Bancroft]
 Box 1 Folder 46
"Co. A"
 Box 1 Folder 47
Urease Paper
 Box 1 Folder 48
The Biological Importance of the Elements
 Box 1 Folder 49
Nobel Prize Nominations
 Box 1 Folder 50
Biliverdin
 Box 1 Folder 51
How to take Microphotographs, J.B.S.
 Box 1 Folder 52
Warburg Manometer Calculations, Dt. of Creatmine Oxolocetic Acid Pref.
 Box 1 Folder 53
Internal Structure of Proteins
 Box 1 Folder 54
Sumner-Somers Material (in German)
 Box 1 Folder 55
Micro Determination of Phosphorous, Sumner Method, 2 to 50 gamma of Phosphorous
 Box 1 Folder 56
Dry Catalase, Dounce
 Box 1 Folder 57
Use of Tswett Column, J.B. Sumner
 Box 1 Folder 58
Operation of the Beckman Spectrophotometer (and others)
 Box 1 Folder 59
Sheffield Farms
 Box 1 Folder 60
Sumner Articles
 Box 1 Folder 61-62
Biochemistry 203, Preparations to be handed in
 Box 1 Folder 63
The Isoelectric Point of Catalase - - -
 Box 1 Folder 64
Method of Preparation of Lecithinose A - - -
 Box 1 Folder 65
The Determination of Glucose - - -
 Box 1 Folder 66
Determination of Phosphorus, Berenblum - chain method better than others?
 Box 1 Folder 67
May 1932
Anticatalase, Don Wood - more work should be done on this
 Box 1 Folder 68
Odor Research
 Box 1 Folder 69
Chemical Linkages
 Box 1 Folder 70
The Use of a Tswett Column (with catalase)
 Box 1 Folder 71
How to Review a Book (J. Chem. Ed.)
 Box 1 Folder 72
Research Funds
 Box 1 Folder 73
1. Am. Cancer Soc., Inc.
 Box 1 Folder 73
2.
 Box 1 Folder 73
May 8, 1951
De Zeenuw Research, Anti-urease
 Box 1 Folder 74
Yellow Enzymes - extra copy for 3rd edition of Sumner & Somers
 Box 1 Folder 75
Ting, Amonia Poisoning
 Box 1 Folder 76
Fat Extraction Apparatus designed by James B. Sumner
 Box 1 Folder 77
N.N.S. by Sugar
 Box 1 Folder 78
The use of the D - - - method for sugar with the Photoelectric Colormeter [?]
 Box 1 Folder 79
Dec. 30, 1942
Det. of Pyrethrius, J.B. Sumner
 Box 1 Folder 80
Test for Dihydrocoenzyme I using Diaphorase
 Box 1 Folder 81
Horse Liver Catalase Preparation
 Box 1 Folder 82
Catalase Further Refinements, The action of Try - - -
 Box 1 Folder 83
Feb. 12, 1952
R. Young, Apo-Cytochrome c Reductase as a test for FMN
 Box 1 Folder 84
Van Buren, FAD Production by Microorganisms
 Box 1 Folder 85
Preparation of Dry Catalase
 Box 1 Folder 86
Nov. 3, 1951
Research Progress by Beaver [Bever], De Zeeuw, Wood, Nygaard & Young
 Box 1 Folder 87
Scheme for Protein Synthesis, A.S. Dounce (Incomplete)
 Box 1 Folder 88
Cytochrome Oxidase
 Box 1 Folder 89
Glucurondase
 Box 1 Folder 90
Riboflavin Synthesis
 Box 1 Folder 91
Preparation of the Old Yellow Enzyme
 Box 1 Folder 92
A Second Crystallizable Beef Liver Protein etc.
 Box 1 Folder 93
Catalase Activation - Institution Divi Thomae
 Box 1 Folder 94
Lipoxidase
 Box 1 Folder 95
Saccharase
 Box 1 Folder 96
Thrombin and Prothrombin
 Box 1 Folder 97
Peptide Chain and Nucleic Acid Synthesis
 Box 1 Folder 98
Glucose Oxidation by Rat Liver
 Box 1 Folder 99
[Diphosphopyridine Nucleotide - - -]
 Box 1 Folder 100
[Glucose Dehydrogenase]
 Box 1 Folder 101
Phosphodiesterase
 Box 1 Folder 102
Glucose Det.
 Box 1 Folder 103
Bibiverdin (Crystalline by peroxidase and H2O2)
 Box 1 Folder 104
Estimation of Nucleoprotein and their Hydrolytic Products
 Box 1 Folder 105
Physiological Detoxification
 Box 1 Folder 106
Quant [?] Method for Peroxide
 Box 1 Folder 107
Fourth Liver Protein
 Box 1 Folder 108
Micro. Det. of Pentoses
 Box 1 Folder 109
An Improved Method for the Preparation of Crystalline Carboxypeptidase
 Box 1 Folder 110
Pyrethrus Det. Curve
 Box 1 Folder 111
July 12, 1934
The Purification of Beta Glucosidase and estimation of Glucosidase activity, J.B. Sumner and S.F. Howell
 Box 1 Folder 112
The Development of Present Day Ideas as to the Chemical Virtues of Enzymes
 Box 1 Folder 113
Apr. 23, 1946
Jack Bean Phosphorylase - Best Method - Sumner and Sisler
 Box 1 Folder 114
Factors Involved in the Enzymatic Reduction of Cytochrome C
 Box 1 Folder 115
I Cytochrome Oxidase
 Box 1 Folder 116
II Carotenoid Pigment
 Box 1 Folder 116
Analytical Methods
 Box 1 Folder 117
Preparation of
1 Muscle Adenylic Acid
 Box 1 Folder 118
2 Adenvine [?] Triphosphate
 Box 1 Folder 118
3 Pectin Quant. Det.
 Box 1 Folder 118
4 Tokadiaslase
 Box 1 Folder 118
May 23, 1950
B-Glucuronidase - A talk given at Savage Hall by J.B.S. before the research group
 Box 1 Folder 119
A Lecture on Agglutination
 Box 1 Folder 120
1949
Corrections and Index for Laboratory Manual - Sumner and Somers
 Box 1 Folder 121
Nov. 1952
Enzymes - 4th Edition - material to insert
 Box 1 Folder 122
For the 4th Edition of Sumner and Somers, "Chemistry and Properties of Enzymes"
 Box 1 Folder 123
4th Edition, Sumner and Somers
 Box 1 Folder 124
For the 4th Edition of Sumner and Somers, "Chemistry and Properties of Enzymes"
 Box 1 Folder 125
May 1954
The Enzymes - Supplement
 Box 1 Folder 126
1927-1930
Calculations for Phosphate solution use in Recrystallizing Urease
 Box 1 Folder 127
Howell - Ghosts, Purification of Stromata - unpublished
 Box 1 Folder 128
Aluminum Hydroxides as Adsorbents
 Box 1 Folder 129
Mechanism of Enzyme Action
 Box 1 Folder 130
Dec. 10, 1947
Astor Hotel (Times Square)
 Box 2 Folder 1
Jan. 16, 1947
Harvard Lecture, 4:30 p.m.
 Box 2 Folder 2
Analytical Methods - Sugar Det. and Tests
 Box 2 Folder 3
Biochemistry 203 - Lecture - Quantitative Methods
 Box 2 Folder 4
Oct. 1951
Lecture
 Box 2 Folder 5
1948
Trip to Trenton, NJ
 Box 2 Folder 6
Biographies and Bibliographies of Certain Scientists
 Box 2 Folder 7
Folen's Ph.D. Students in Biochemistry
 Box 2 Folder 8
Authors and Subjects for a book
 Box 2 Folder 9
ca. 1952
Nominees for National Academy of Science
 Box 2 Folder 10
Loose material
 Box 2 Folder 11-14
Articles - William Burgess
 Box 2 Folder 15
Eric Borel
 Box 2 Folder 16
Earl B. Herr, Jr.
 Box 2 Folder 17
P.S. Krishman
 Box 2 Folder 18
Walter Mosemann
 Box 2 Folder 19
A.P. Nygaard
 Box 2 Folder 20
N.K. Sarkar
 Box 2 Folder 21
Roger G. Young
 Box 2 Folder 22
E.A. Zeller
 Box 2 Folder 23
Army Chemical Center
 Box 2 Folder 24
Biochemistry Major Arts and Sciences
 Box 2 Folder 25
"The Enzymes," Reviews of
 Box 2 Folder 26
Enzyme Chemistry, Annual Progress Report for Laboratory of
 Box 2 Folder 27
Ford Foundation
 Box 2 Folder 28
Division of Grants, Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md.
 Box 2 Folder 29
The Lilly Research Laboratories Grant, Eli Lilly & Co.
 Box 2 Folder 30
1952
Research Corporation Annual Dinner
 Box 2 Folder 31
Rockefeller Fund for Enzyme Chemistry
 Box 2 Folder 32
The Schroeder Foundation
 Box 2 Folder 33
1954-1955
Correspondence
A
 Box 2 Folder 34
B
 Box 2 Folder 35
C
 Box 2 Folder 36
D
 Box 2 Folder 37
E
 Box 2 Folder 38
F
 Box 2 Folder 39
G
 Box 2 Folder 40
H
 Box 2 Folder 41
I
 Box 2 Folder 42
J
 Box 2 Folder 43
K
 Box 2 Folder 44
L
 Box 2 Folder 45
M
 Box 2 Folder 46
N
 Box 2 Folder 47
O
 Box 2 Folder 48
P
 Box 2 Folder 49
R
 Box 2 Folder 50
S
 Box 2 Folder 51
T
 Box 2 Folder 52
U
 Box 2 Folder 53
V
 Box 2 Folder 54
W
 Box 2 Folder 55
XYZ
 Box 2 Folder 56
Course and lecture notes
1908
Harvard College course notes
 Box 3 Volume
ca. 1947-1954
Biochemistry lecture and laboratory notes
 Box 3 Volume
Books, reprints
Books by James B. Sumner
1947
Chemistry and Methods of Enzymes, James B. Sumner and G. Fred Somers, New York: Academic Press Inc.
 Box 4 Folder
1953
Chemistry and Methods of Enzymes (3rd edition)
 Box 4 Folder
1949
Laboratory Experiments in Biological Chemistry, Sumner-Somers, New York: Academic Press, Inc.
 Box 4 Folder
1927
Textbook of Biological Chemistry, Sumner, New York: The MacMillan Company
 Box 4 Folder
Reprints
1910-1926
Sumner, H.A. Torrey, C.H. Fiske, E. Zung, R.S. Hubbard, A. Graham, C.V. Noback
 Box 4
1926-1933
Sumner, R.G. Holloway, D.B. Hand, K. Myrback, J.S. Kirk, L.O. Poland
 Box 4
1933-1936
Sumner, J.S. Kirk, I. Fankuchen, S.F. Howell, A. Zeissig
 Box 4
1936-1938
Sumner, S.F. Howell, A.L. Dounce, N. Gralen, I.-B. Eriksson-Quensel
 Box 4
1938-1940
Sumner, S.F. Howell, A.L. Dounce, E. Tria, O.D. Frampton
 Box 4
1940-1943
Sumner, A.L. Dounce, M. Laskowski, V.L. Frampton, Erland C. Gjessing, J.W. Howland
 Box 4
1942-1947
Sumner, E.B. Sisler, G.F. Somers, E.L. Cosby, M. Nymon, P.S. Krishnan
 Box 4
1947-1948
Sumner, P.S. Krishnan, G.N. Smith, W.L. Nelson, D.J. O'Kane
 Box 4
1948-1951
Sumner, P.S. Krishnan, T.L. Sourkes, Y.C. Ting, H.O. Kunkel, W.L. Nelson, T.C. Chow, A.T. Bever, J.H. Northrop, N.K. Sarkar
 Box 4
1950-1952
Sumner, M.S. Dunn, W. Drell, P.A. Shaffer, w. Mosimann, N.K. Sarker, A.P. Nygaard, F.B. Hutt, A.T. Bever
 Box 4
1946
Le Prix Nobel en 1946 - Sumner's personal copy of 1946 prize winners
 Box 4
Other Books
1916
Practical Physiological Chemistry, Philip B. Hawk, Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co.
 Box 4 Folder
1917
A German-English Dictionary for Chemists, Austin M. Patterson, New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
 Box 4 Folder
1927
American Men of Science, 4th Edition, New York: The Science Press
 Box 4 Folder
Bound Papers
1955
Burlingham, Kenneth, The Effect of Plant Growth Substances on Respiratory Metabolism and the Relation of this to Growth
 Box 4 Folder
Green, D.E., Biochemical Methods
 Box 4 Folder
Photographs
1933
Annual Meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
 Box 5
Class of 1918 (2 copies)
 Box 5
ca. 1928-1932
Faculty and Students of Cornell Medical College (?)
 Box 5
Groups including Sumner
 Box 5
1951
Sumner in office at Savage Hall
 Box 5
Dr. Sutherland Simpson
 Box 5
1951
George F. Gray
 Box 5
1948
Wilder D. Bancroft (3 copies)
 Box 5
Dr. and Mrs. Philip B. Haw and Sumner
 Box 5
Bennett R. Macmillan
 Box 5
1937
Uppsala, Sweden - Nobel Prize Ceremonies
 Box 5
Willard Straight Hall, Cornell Library and Bell Tower, Mr. de Grassi and Dr. Abbe near library
 Box 5
1942
Cornell Campus - Horse Barn
 Box 5
1946-1947
Savage Hall (also excavation for)
 Box 5
Catalase Crystals - Phenolphthalein (1 large, 22 small, neg.)
 Box 5
Urease
 Box 5
Tswett Column
 Box 5
Catalase Crystals (photos and glass slides)
 Box 5
Other Beef Liver Crystalline Proteins (photos and slides)
 Box 5
Other Beef Liver Crystalline Proteins (slides)
 Box 5
Jack Bean Protein (other than urease) (slides)
 Box 5
Recognitions
Certificate: Phi Kappa Phi
 Box 5
Bound Volume: Nobel Prize
 Box 5
Glass slides
Glass slides in wooden boxes
 Box 6-9