Hermann J. Muller Collection

This collection contains material donated by two different donors: Elof Axel Carlson and David Muller (Hermann Muller’s son). The collection is organized into two record groups which are then subdivided into series within said record groups.

Record Group I contains correspondence organized alphabetically by correspondent’s last name. The biographical series and the research and publications series were organized chronologically. Notes, drafts, manuscripts, and reprints were integrated within since there was some ambiguity and crossover between these materials. Also, there are some folders which represent multiple forms of the same work in different stages of completion. Wherever possible, the items have been grouped in a thematic way, such that related correspondence, notes, drafts or publications are kept together rather than divided by the type of material. For example, correspondence and clippings regarding Muller’s Nobel Prize are grouped together. This reflects the organization created by Elof Carlson during his research for his biography of Hermann Muller. Fortunately, Dr. Carlson was willing to come in to the archives and help explain the significance and provenance of the material he donated. His notes are currently written on the original folders which are kept with the material. Thus one can view the organization of this record group as a modification of Elof Carlson’s original organization.

Record Group II of this collection has been divided into three series: Correspondence, Notes and Memorabilia, and Photographs. The correspondence is organized chronologically to preserve original order and so that the letters can be used to recount the events of the Mullers’ lives primarily between 1920 and 1945. The photographs and artifacts were enclosed in the correspondence and some were moved due to special preservation needs or because there was no associated correspondence. Folders contain notes to indicate when a photograph or artifact has been removed and where it has been placed. Some artifacts which does not have special preservation needs, remains in the folders with the associated correspondence. The original post-it notes which were stuck in the binders with each item of correspondence have been removed and recorded maintaining the number on the post-it note as well as its color.