Scope and Content Note
The papers of Albert Szent-Györgyi (1893-1986) span the years 1908-1986, with nearly all of the material dating after his immigration to the United States in 1947. They consist of correspondence, writings on scientific and political topics, biographical material, news clippings, notebooks, musical compositions, photographs, printed matter, Hungarian legal documents, and American immigration papers. The papers are in English and Hungarian. The collection is arranged in three series: Correspondence, Writings, and Miscellany.
The material pertains chiefly to Szent-Györgyi's life in the United States. Following his arrival, Szent-Györgyi resided and worked at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, until his death in 1986. From 1947 to 1973, he conducted research on muscle contraction and directed the Institute for Muscle Research. From 1973 until his death, Szent-Györgyi was active in cancer research and served as scientific director for the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Most of the scientific writings and notes in the collection concern these two research areas as well as his continued interest in vitamin C. Also included are his political writings, particularly those expressing opposition to the Vietnam War, a draft of his book The Crazy Ape, and his unpublished "The Sick Ape."
A few items relating to his wife Marta Borbiro are mostly in Hungarian. Other papers and correspondence concern the immigration of family members to the United States.