Papers of a noted physician, virologist, humanitarian, and founder of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California. Salk is best known for his development of the world's first successful vaccine for the prevention of poliomyelitis, licensed in the U.S. in 1955. He has also conducted important research in the prevention and treatment of influenza, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. He served on the faculty of the University of Michigan (1942-1947), the University of Pittsburgh (1947-1963), and as Director of the Salk Institute (1963-1975). His numerous writings have appeared in scholarly and popular journals, and he is the author or co-author of five books, including MAN UNFOLDING (1972) and THE SURVIVAL OF THE WISEST (1973). He has worked for a wide variety of humanitarian efforts, and has served on the board of directors of many organizations, including the MacArthur Foundation, the Dreyfus Fund, and the Epoch B Foundation. The Salk Papers constitute an exhaustive source of documentation of Dr. Salk's professional activities, but very few materials relating to his personal life can be found in the collection. Most of the papers cover the period from the mid-1940s to the early 1980s. Best documented are Dr. Salk's activities from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s -- activities largely related to the development of the Salk polio vaccine. The papers include general correspondence, files relating to polio, subject files, writings by Dr. Salk, photographs, artifacts, and research materials. Also included in the collection are materials created by Dr. Salk's laboratory staff members and papers generated by offices of the Salk Institute. Prominent correspondents include Basil O'Connor and other officers and staff of the National Foundation - March of Dimes; immunologists Thomas Francis and Albert Sabin; physicist and biologist Leo Szilard; mathematician and philosopher Jacob Bronowski; architect Louis Kahn; and other important figures in the worlds of art, science, education, public administration, and humanitarianism. The papers are arranged in ten series: 1) GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 2) POLIO FILES, 3) SUBJECT FILES, 4) WRITINGS, LECTURES AND INTERVIEWS, 5) PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER IMAGES, 6) SALK INSTITUTE FILES, 7) FILES OF OTHERS, 8) AWARDS, HONORS AND CERTIFICATES, 9) MISCELLANY, and 10) RESEARCH MATERIALS. Additions to the Jonas Salk Papers processed in 1995 primarily document Salk's fundamental role in the revival of the live versus killed polio-vaccine debate in the mid 1970s and 1980s. Also included in this accession are materials related to the internal affairs of the Salk Institute, dated 1982-1989, files that document the work of the San Diego Growth Management Task Force put together in 1984 by Mayor Roger Hedgecock, materials related to Salk's interest in developing a vaccine for HIV, and files pertaining to Salk's advisory role on a broad range of committees and foundations. The papers include a large correspondence series, polio subject files, writings by Dr. Salk, reports, research materials, and photographs. Some notable correspondents found in this accession are Robert Aldrich, Francis Crick, Indira and Kishone Gandhi, Albert Gore, Roger Guilleman, Robert Hamburger, Armand Hammer, Orrin Hatch, Arnold Mandell, Ronald Reagan, and Herbert York. The papers date 1941-1991, with the bulk of the material dating in the 1970s and 1980s. The papers occupy 34 linear feet and are arranged in ten series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) WRITINGS AND LECTURES, 3) POLIO SUBJECT FILES, 4) CONFERENCES, 5) SAN DIEGO GROWTH MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE MATERIALS, 6) SALK INSTITUTE FILES, 7) NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, INTERVIEWS, AND EPHEMERA, 8) AWARDS, 9) PHOTOGRAPHS, and 10) ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES.

Jonas Salk is best known for his discovery of the world's first successful vaccine for the prevention of poliomyelitis. In addition to this accomplishment, Dr. Salk has made significant contributions to the study, prevention, and treatment of influenza, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other diseases. He is also known for the founding and direction of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, his work for a wide variety of humanitarian endeavors, and most recently for his involvement in AIDS research.

316.10 linear feet (573 archives boxes, 38 card file boxes, 13 records cartons, 76 art bin items, and 176 oversize folders)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.