The primary objective of Special Collections at Oregon State University's Valley Library is to maintain and preserve the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers. Linus Pauling is considered to be one of the most important scientists and humanitarians of the twentieth century. With the use of the Pauling collection as a cornerstone, a secondary objective of the Special Collections will be to document the development of science and technology in the twentieth century. The Special Collections will be of particular interest to researchers concerned with 20th-century science and science-based technology, and to those investigating the development of science. Find out more about our Collections.

No special credentials or permissions are necessary to use our materials. We are open to both the academic community as well as the general public. We do suggest that researchers visiting from outside the area contact us before their visit so that we may prepare accordingly.

News and Events

Dr. Roderick MacKinnon, Nobel laureate, to Receive Pauling Legacy Award and Speak in Portland, May 5, 2008. March 27, 2008 – Dr. Roderick MacKinnon, winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, will speak in Portland on Monday, May 5th. The lecture, entitled “Ion Channel Chemistry: The Electrical System of Life,” will be held at the Portland Hilton & Executive Tower at 8:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public. Seats may be reserved ahead of time. Read more. A New Blog Devoted to the Life and Work of Linus and Ava Helen Pauling March 13, 2008 – The Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections is pleased to announce the launch of its latest online venture, the PaulingBlog, available at http://paulingblog.wordpress.com. Read more. Expanded "Nature of the Chemical Bond" Website Launched in Celebration of Pauling Birthday February 28, 2008 – A revised and dramatically expanded version of the website "Linus Pauling and the Nature of the Chemical Bond: A Documentary History" is being released by the Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections in celebration of the 107th anniversary of Linus Pauling's birth. Read more. OSU Libraries Special Collections Seeks Applicants for Resident Scholar Program January 24, 2008 – Research grants are being made available to scholars interested in conducting work in the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers at OSU Libraries Special Collections. Stipends of $2,500 per month renewable for up to three months (for a total maximum grant award of $7,500) will be made available to researchers in the history of science whose proposals detail a compelling potential use of the materials held in the vast Pauling archive. Grant monies can be used for any purpose. Read more.  Subscribe to our News Feed: RSS or Atom.   Read Archived News