Science History Institute Acquires Molecular Biology Archive That Includes Rosalind Franklin’s Historic ‘Photo 51’

The collection includes the largest selection of archival papers outside of the U.K. from famed British chemist and X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin. Among this treasure trove of notes, photographs, manuscripts, and correspondence is the jewel of the collection: Franklin’s own copy of Photo 51, the groundbreaking image used to reveal DNA’s structure. Taken in 1952 by Franklin and her PhD student, Raymond Gosling, Photo 51 displayed the X-ray diffraction pattern of DNA and provided the clearest evidence that DNA is in fact a double helix. A negative of this famous photo, a glass jar called a “desiccator” that removes moisture and humidity, and other historic artifacts used in Franklin and Gosling’s DNA experiments are also part of the collection.

Other gems found in the more than 100 acquired boxes include original laboratory notebooks from Crick, Gosling, and Klug from the 1950s, revealing the precise moments when each discovered another clue to decoding the secret of life. These files also show both collaboration and disputes among other leading scientists. For example, Perutz’s correspondence reveals his passionate attempt to repair his reputation, which was damaged after Watson’s allegation that Perutz had handed him a “confidential” report written by Franklin. Watson’s own account is also represented in an early draft of Honest Jim, a memoir later titled The Double Helix.

“This is one of the most important acquisitions in our organization’s history,” says David Cole, president and CEO of the Science History Institute. “We see this as a seed collection that will inspire further growth as we preserve the history of the life sciences for a global audience.”

For 20 years, the History of Molecular Biology Collection has been under the care of JCVI in La Jolla, California, where it has been well maintained. While information about the collection has been accessed primarily through the Online Archive of California, the Science History Institute will offer even broader access.

“We couldn’t think of a better home for the next phase in the life of this collection than at the Science History Institute, which will make it accessible in a way that we don’t have the capacity to do,” remarked Craig Venter, JCVI founder, chair, and CEO.

In addition to a free museum and library, the Science History Institute is also home to one of the largest fellowship programs in the U.S. dedicated to the history of science. The collection is already available to researchers in the Institute’s Othmer Library of Chemical History. Applications for fellowships open in October 2025, while research travel grants are reviewed on a rolling basis.

“We’re also actively digitizing the materials from the collection to provide free global access through our website,” said Michelle DiMeo, vice president of collections and programs and the Arnold Thackray Director of the Othmer Library. “And the timing couldn’t be better as we approach the 75th anniversary of the capture of ‘Photo 51,’ as well as the anniversary of the publication of Watson and Crick’s famous essay in ‘Nature’ in 1953.”

To coincide with the anniversary of Photo 51, the Institute will unveil a provocative new exhibition in the fall of 2027, providing a unique opportunity for the general public to view highlights from the collection.

“The Institute has been experiencing unprecedented growth at a time when it is more important than ever to tell the stories behind the science,” adds Cole. “As a trusted resource and hub for research in the history of science, we are well prepared for what we expect will be a huge influx of in-person visitors to the Science History Institute. We’re also equipped to document and interpret the collection in novel ways.”