Robert Lesh Baldwin : An Oral History

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Robert Lesh “Buzz” Baldwin is a professor of biochemistry emeritus at Stanford University. In this oral history, he covers his childhood in Wisconsin; the work of his father, Ira L. Baldwin, for the US government during World War II; and his experiences as a student and professor. Topics covered include his chemistry studies, post-doctorate work, ultracentrifuge experiments, and interest in the mechanisms of protein-folding. An important figure in the field of genetics, Baldwin recounts the early days of the Stanford Department of Biochemistry and the leadership of Arthur Kornberg, as well as his interactions with other notable scientists at the university and beyond. Baldwin and his wife, Anne, also discuss housing, Stanford’s research environment, and their retirement.
Summary
Childhood and family in Madison, Wisconsin • Parents’ approach to teaching children • Three generations of gardeners (grandfather, father, son) • Father accepting invitation to direct U.S. biological warfare laboratories during WWII • Codebreaking for the Army in WWII • Contracting tuberculosis from monkeys at the zoo • University of Wisconsin education • Father’s WWI experiences and his service on committee under Vannevar Bush organizing scientists for the war effort during WWII • Father’s work at Camp Detrick on biological warfare and the family’s experiences • Early interest in physical chemistry and problem solving • Svedberg analytical centrifuge • Measuring the sedimentation coefficients of small molecules • Rhodes Scholarship and Oxford’s approach to training PhD students v. using research groups • Influence of Dr. A. G. Ogston at Oxford • Learning about protein folding at Linderstrom-Lang’s laboratory • Friendship with John Schellman • Formation of the Department of Biochemistry at Stanford under Arthur Kornberg • Solving problems in genetics at Stanford • New role at Stanford as the biophysicist with expertise on the analytical ultracentrifuge to study DNA • Setting up graduate courses under Arthur Kornberg’s leadership • Impact of graduates of Stanford’s genetics program • Kornberg DNA polymerase and the DNA clubs • Importance of purification in molecular biology research • Use of computers v. use of his photographic memory • Relationships with other departments at Stanford • Input from Anne Baldwin (his wife) on relationships with other departments and housing • Sabbatical at Monod-Jacob laboratory in Paris to study genetics • Discussion of allosteric enzymes, Jacques Monod approach and physical chemistry • Friendships with Jacques Monod, Manfred Eigen, Francis Crick • Conversation with Anne Baldwin about how they met and their life together • Contributions in protein folding research • Research in unfolding process by Arlene Blum • Arlene Blum's efforts regarding the elimination of carcinogens (Green Science Policy Institute) • Cyrus Levinthal and Levinthal's paradox and molecular biology • Walter Englander and foldon mechanism • Experimental evidence of protein-folding and metabolic pathways • Changes at Stanford and the modernization of the Medical School • Formation of Departments of Genetics and Biochemistry with Joshua Lederberg and Arthur Kornberg • Changes in the way research is done in medical schools • Dave Hogness and the Department of Developmental Biology with Lucy Shapiro as chair • Visitors to his lab, such as Eric Shooter (brain proteins) • Experiences serving as department chair • Vietnam War and Stanford President Kenneth Pitzer • Work with Ross Inman and newly synthesized DNA strands • Seminar at Institute of Genetics at Cologne • Retirement

Description

Type of resource sound recording-nonmusical, text, still image
Extent 1 audio file; 1 text file; 1 photograph
Place Stanford (Calif.)
Publisher Stanford Historical Society
Date created July 11, 2018
Language English
Digital origin born digital

Creators/Contributors

Interviewee Baldwin, Robert L. (Robert Lesh), 1927-
Creator Baldwin, Robert L. (Robert Lesh), 1927-
Interviewer Marine-Street, Natalie J.
Publisher Stanford Historical Society

Subjects

Subject Baldwin, Robert L. (Robert Lesh), 1927-
Subject Biochemistry
Subject Stanford University. Department of Biochemistry
Subject Molecular biology
Genre Interview

Bibliographic information

Biographical Profile

Robert L. “Buzz” Baldwin is professor of biochemistry, emeritus at Stanford University School of Medicine. He was born on September 30, 1927 in Madison, Wisconsin. He married Anne T. Norris in 1965 and they have two children: David Norris Baldwin and Eric Lawrence Baldwin.
Baldwin received his BA in chemistry in 1950 from the University of Wisconsin, and his DPhil in biochemistry in 1954 from Oxford University, England, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Following a brief postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin with J.W. Williams and L.J. Gosting, Baldwin was appointed assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin. There, he was promoted to associate professor and was a Guggenheim Fellow in Copenhagen with Linderstrøm-Lang. In 1959, Baldwin moved to Stanford University to join the newly created Department of Biochemistry chaired by the late Arthur Kornberg. He was promoted from associate professor to professor in 1964, served as chairman of the department from 1989-1994, and became emeritus in 1998.
His research and sabbatical leaves included: the Carlsburg Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark (section of K. Linderstrøm-Lang); the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (with David Davies); the Max Planck Institut für physikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany (section of M. Eigen); the Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (sections of F. Jacob and J. Monod); and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England (Structural Studies Division).
Baldwin was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences in 1980 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1981. He received the Stein & Moore Award from the Protein Society in 1992, the Wheland Award in Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1995, the Merck Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 1999, and the Founder’s Award from the Biophysical Society in 1999.
Transcript
Title
Transcript
Finding Aid
Title
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program Interviews
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/jt301jr3586
Location SC0932
Repository Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Access conditions

Use and reproduction
Digital recordings from this collection may be accessed freely. These files may not be reproduced or used for any purpose without permission. For permission requests, please contact Stanford University Department of Special Collections & University Archives (speccoll@stanford.edu).
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.

Collection

Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022

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