Papers of Joseph W. Corse

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Science History Institute Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Call Number:: 41
Repository:: Science History Institute Archives
Extent:: 0.75 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language:: English
Preferred Citation:: Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Papers of Joseph W. Corse, 1943-1949, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:: 1943-1949 (inclusive)
Creator:: Corse, Joseph W.
Form:: Archival materials and Lantern slides
Abstract:: Reports, reprints, and glass lantern slides regarding the biosynthesis of penicillin by researchers at Eli Lilly & Company. The materials in this collection were collected and maintained by Joseph W. Corse, an American chemist and employee of Eli Lilly.

Joseph W. Corse (1913-2009) was an American chemist and employee of Eli Lilly & Company, an American pharmaceuticals concern. During World War II, Corse served on a team of Eli Lilly scientists that conducted research into the biosynthesis of penicillin. Working under the auspices of the United States Committee on Medical Research, Eli Lilly researchers (including Corse) developed a method for the biosynthesis of Penicillin-G, which allowed for the mass production of this drug.

As a result of this research work, Eli Lilly became one of the first pharmaceutical companies to mass produce Penicillin-G. The firm's "Process and Culture Media for Producing New Penicillins" was patented in 1949.

Sources

Papers of Joseph W. Corse, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Papers of Joseph W. Corse contain materials regarding the biosynthesis of penicillin by scientists at Eli Lilly & Company, which was conducted under the auspices of the United States Committee on Medical Research. The materials in this collection were collected and maintained by Joseph W. Corse, an American chemist and Eli Lilly employee, who served on the team of scientists conducting the research. Some of the materials in this collection were classified as "Secret" by the United States Government during World War II.

The Papers of Joseph W. Corse are arranged into the following two series:

Reports
Glass Lantern Slides

The Papers of Joseph W. Corse were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation) by Joseph W. Corse in 1994.

The Papers of Joseph W. Corse were processed by Andrew Mangravite in June 2015.

People

Woodward, R.B. (Robert Burns), 1917-1979

Organization

Subject

Publisher: Science History Institute Archives
Finding Aid Author: Finding aid created by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig.
Finding Aid Date: 2015
Access Restrictions: There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes and the collection is open to the public.
Use Restrictions: The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Papers of Joseph W. Corse. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Collection Inventory

Series Description

Arranged in chronological order by date, this series contains reports and miscellaneous materials regarding the research into the biosynthesis of penicillin, which were generated by Eli Lilly scientists (including Joseph W. Corse). Research reports constitute the bulk of the materials in this series. Article reprints and the United States patent for "Process and Culture Media for Producing New Penicillins" are also preserved here.

December 27, 1943 - Dr. H.E Carter, University of Illinois; Dr. G.F. Cartland, The Upjohn Company; Dr. L.A. Sweet, Parke, Davis, and Company; Dr. E.H. Volwiler, Abbot Laboratories; Dr. G.H.A. Clowes, Lilly Research Laboratories - "Re: Experimental Data Bearing on the Structure of Penicillin.", 1943 December 27.

Box 1 Folder 1

January 5, 1944 - "Conference, January 5, 1944", Carter, Clowes, Rohrmann, Corse, Hagers, Krahl, Davis, Behrens, Kleiderer, and Shonle., 1944 January 5.

Box 1 Folder 2

January 26, 1944 - "Ethyl Penaldate.", 1944 January 26.

Box 1 Folder 3

February 9, 1944 - "Progress Report of Work Done at the Lilly Research Laboratories up to February 9, 1944. This work is reported according to the listed assignments of the meetings held in Chicago 1-6-44 and 1-20-44.", 1944 February 9.

Box 1 Folder 4

March 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 March 15.

Box 1 Folder 5

April 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 April 15.

Box 1 Folder 6

April 28, 1944 - "Synthetic Program Assigned to the Lilly Group as a result of Meetings held 4-19-44 and 4-24-44 in Chicago.", 1944 April 28.

Box 1 Folder 7

April 28, 1944 - "Effect of Penicillin G upon the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in the Presence of Certain Sulfur-containing Compounds, of Certain Growth Factors, or of Other Related Substances. The Lilly Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana.", 1944 April 28.

Box 1 Folder 8

May 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 May 15.

Box 1 Folder 9

"Synthesis of alpha-Amino beta-Thiol and n-Valeric Acid*, The Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana." (*This report is submitted at the special request of Dr. H.T. Clarke, dated March 28, 1944. Reference Summary Report of Abbott, Lilly, Parke-Davis, and Upjohn, December 30, 1943.), 1944.

Box 1 Folder 10

July 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in The Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 July 11.

Box 1 Folder 11

August 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 August 15.

Box 1 Folder 12

September 9, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in The Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 September 9.

Box 1 Folder 13

September 19, 1944 - "Constitution of Penicillin; Memorandum of views put forward by R.B. Woodward in the course of discussions with V. du Vigenaud and with H.T. Clarke.", 1944 September 19.

Box 1 Folder 14

September 20, 1944 - "Meeting Held in Chicago, September 20, 1944, on Penicillin and Its Synthesis.", Abbot Laboratories: Drs. MacCorquodale, Risser, Weston; Eli Lilly and Company: Drs. Corse, Jones, Kleiderer; Parke, Davis, and Company: Drs. Long, Binkley; The Upjohn Company: Dr. Levin; Consultant: Dr. Carter, 1944 September 20.

Box 1 Folder 15

October 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1944 October 15.

Box 1 Folder 16

November 7, 1944 - "The Constitution of Penicillin G.", Abbot Laboratories, The Lilly Research Laboratories, Parke, Davis and Co., and The Upjohn Co., 1944 November 7.

Box 1 Folder 17

November 15, 1944 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories, November 15, 1944. Further Biosynthesis of Penicillin from Biological Precursors.", 1944 November 15.

Box 1 Folder 18

November 18, 1944 - "The Lilly Research Laboratories. A Detailed Report of Electrometric Titration Data on Penicillin G, Degradation Products, and Model Substances, in Aqueous Solutions and in Water-Alcohol Mixtures. The Titrations Reported were Performed in the Lilly Research Laboratories up to 9-30-44.", 1944 November 18.

Box 1 Folder 19

December 13, 1944 - "The Lilly Research Laboratories. Catalytic Hydrogenation Experiments on Penicillin-G in Glacial Acetic Acid.", 1944 December 13.

Box 1 Folder 20

December 15, 1944 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories, December 15, 1944. Further Biosynthetic Results of Penicillin from Biological Precursors.", 1944 December 15.

Box 1 Folder 21

January 11, 1945 - "The Lilly Research Laboratories. New Penicillins.", 1945 January 11.

Box 1 Folder 22

January 15, 1945 - "Report on the Status of Chemical Work Regarding Penicillin Done in the Lilly Research Laboratories, January 15, 1945. Progress of the Synthesis of Deutero-phenylacetyl-N15-dl-valine.", 1945 January 15.

Box 1 Folder 23

(Received) January 18, 1945 - Woodward Penicillin Report - "The Structure of Penicillin." (Photostat copy of report.), 1945 January 18.

Box 1 Folder 24

February 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 February 15.

Box 1 Folder 25

March 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 March 15.

Box 1 Folder 26

March 30, 1945 - "Precursors Considered and/or Under Way.", 1945 March 30.

Box 1 Folder 27

April 5, 1945 - "Summary of Precursor Work on Penicillin in Lilly Laboratories.", 1945 April 5.

Box 1 Folder 28

April 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 April 15.

Box 1 Folder 29

May 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 May 15.

Box 1 Folder 30

May 26, 1945 - Chain, E. and E.S. Duthie. "Bactericidal and Bacteriolytic Action of Penicillin on the Staphylococcus." The Lancet (May 26, 1945): 652-659 (Photostat copy of article.), 1945 May 26.

Box 1 Folder 31

June 11, 1945 - "Lilly Research Laboratories. We have made, have under way or would like to prepare the following precursors or their parent acids.", 1945 June 11.

Box 1 Folder 32

June 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 June 15.

Box 1 Folder 33

July 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 July 15.

Box 1 Folder 34

August 14, 1945 - Dr. Clowes; Mr. Rhodehamel; Mr. Scott; Mr. Shonle; Dr Kleiderer; Dr. Behrens; Dr. Jones; Dr. Soper; Dr. Corse; cc-Mr. Rood - "Penicillin Meeting, August 8, 1945.", 1945 August 8.

Box 1 Folder 35

August 15, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 August 15.

Box 1 Folder 36

October 31, 1945 - "Penicillin Report from the Lilly Research Laboratories.", 1945 October 31.

Box 1 Folder 37

December 1945 - "The Lilly Research Laboratories. Penicillin Programs - Proposals for 1946.", 1945 December.

Box 1 Folder 38

December 21, 1945 - Committee on Medical Research O.S.R.D., Washington, and the Medical Research Council, London. "Chemistry of Penicillin." Science, 102, no. 2660 (December 21, 1945): 627-629. (Reprint of article.), 1945 December 21.

Box 1 Folder 39

December 29, 1945 - "The Lilly Research Laboratories. Penicillin Program. Report from November and December, 1945.", Dr. Behrens, Dr. Corse, Dr. Jones, Dr. Soper, Dr. Whitehead, 1945 December 29.

Box 1 Folder 40

March 11, 1946 - "Lilly Research Laboratories. Penicillin Report for January and February, 1946.", Dr. Otto K. Behrens, Dr. Joseph Corse, Dr. Reuben G. Jones, Dr. Quentin F. Soper, Dr. Calvert Whitehead, 1946 March 11.

Box 1 Folder 41

April 13, 1946 - "Chemistry of the Penicillins." The Lancet (April 13, 1946): 539-541. (Photostat copy of article.), 1946 April 13.

Box 1 Folder 42

May 9, 1946 - "Lilly Research Laboratories. Penicillin Biosynthesis Report for March and April 1946.", Dr. Otto K. Behrens, Dr. Joseph Corse, Dr. Reuben G. Jones, Dr. Quentin F. Soper, Dr. C.W. Whitehead, 1946 May 9.

Box 1 Folder 43

May 10, 1946 - "Penicillin Biosynthesis.", 1946 May 10.

Box 1 Folder 44

May 15, 1946 - "Abbot Laboratories. Progress Report on Penicillin Research.", 1946 May 15.

Box 1 Folder 45

May 21, 1946 - "Penicillin Biosynthesis. The following precursors are ready in sufficient quantity for the pilot plant runs.", 1946 May 21.

Box 1 Folder 46

July 8, 1946 - Morning Session - "Penicillin Conference. Mid-West Group. Indianapolis, July 8, 1946. Morning Session. H.E. Carter, presiding. Robert Coghill, Sylvester, Hansen (Abbot); Barts, Ehrlich (Parke Davis); Collingsworth, Leach (Upjohn); O.K. Behrens, J.W. Corse, Q.F. Soper, G. Whitehead, E.G. Kleiderer, J.A. Leighty, J.M. McGuire, H.A. Shonle (Lilly). Progress Report.", 1946 July 8.

Box 1 Folder 47

July 8, 1946 - Afternoon Session - "Penicillin Conference. Mid-West Group. Indianapolis, July 8, 1946. Afternoon Session. H.E. Carter, presiding. Robert Coghill, Sylvester, Hansen (Abbot); Barts, Ehrlich (Parke Davis); Collingsworth, Leach (Upjohn); O.K. Behrens, J.W. Corse, Q.F. Soper, G. Whitehead, E.G. Kleiderer, J.A. Leighty, J.M. McGuire, H.A. Shonle (Lilly). Progress Report.", 1946 July 8.

Box 1 Folder 48

June 27, 1947 - The Editorial Board of the Monograph on the Chemistry of Penicillin. "The Chemical Study of Penicillin: A Brief History." Science, vol. 105, no. 2739 (June 27, 1947): 653-659 (Article reprint.), 1947 June 27.

Box 1 Folder 49

November 28, 1947 - The Editorial Board of the Monograph on the Chemistry of Penicillin. "Biosynthesis of Penicillins." Science, vol. 106, no. 2761 (November 28, 1947): 503-505. (Article reprint.), 1947 November 28.

Box 1 Folder 50

August 16, 1949 - Date of Patent: August 16, 1949; Patent Number: 2,479,295; "Process and Culture Media for Producing New Penicillins.", Otto K. Behrens, Joseph W. Corse, Reuben G. Jones, and Quentin F. Soper, Indianapolis, Indiana, assignors to Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, a corporation of Indiana. Application: March 8, 1946 (Copy of patent.), 1949 August 16.

Box 1 Folder 51

Series Description

Arranged in its original order, this series contains three sets of glass lantern slides regarding the research into the biosynthesis of penicillin, which were generated by Eli Lilly scientists (including Joseph W. Corse). The images preserved in this series correspond to chemical compounds mentioned in the research reports preserved in Series I.

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium Benzylpenicillin (G), circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 1

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium p-bromobenzylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947 .

Box 2 Object 2

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium p-Methoxybenzylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 3

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium m-Fluorobenzoylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 4

Set 1 - Microscopic view of 3-Pentenylpenicillin (Flavicidin), circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 5

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium p-Iodobenzylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 6

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium Phenoxymethylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 7

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium p-Chlorobenzylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 8

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium 6-Fluorobenzylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 9

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium p-Fluorobenzoylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 10

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium 2-Thiophenemethylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 11

Set 1 - Microscopic view of n-Heptylpenicillin (K), circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 12

Set 1 - Microscopic view of Sodium p-Methylphenylpenicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 13

Set 2 - Chemical structure of Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic Acid, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 14

Set 2 - Tricyclic Structure and Ortho Acid Type, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 15

Set 2 - B-Lactam Formula and B-Lactam, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 16

Set 2 - Chemical structure of Penicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 17

Set 2 - dl-Penicillamine Hydrochloride, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 18

Set 2 - dl-2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl-3-formyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 19

Set 2 - Ethyl Penaldate-G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 20

Set 2 - B,B-Diethoxyalanine Ethyl Ester, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 21

Set 2 - a-Ethyl Penicilloate-G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 22

Set 2 - Penilloic Acid G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 23

Set 2 - Unidentified chemical formula, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 24

Set 2 - Methyl Penillate-G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 25

Set 2 - Penillamine G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 26

Set 2 - Penicillamine (Pyridine), circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 27

Set 2 - Penicillin G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 28

Set 2 - B-Methyl Penicilloate G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 29

Set 2 - Comparison of the "Bacterial Spectra" of Crystalline Sodium Penicillin-G and the Synthetic Reaction, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 30

Set 2 - Product of d-Penicillamine with 2-Benzyl-4-methoxymethylene-5-oxazolone, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 31

Set 2 - Unidentified chemical formula, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 32

Set 2 - Penicillin-G and Penillic Acid G, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 33

Set 2 - Proof of Synthesis of Penicillin, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 34

Set 2 - Unidentified chemical formulas, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 35

Set 3 - Penicillin-G, Penicillin-X, and Penicillin-F, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 36

Set 3 - Oxazolone-Thiazolidine Formula and Oxazolone (Azlactone) Ring, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 37

Set 3 - Penicilloic Acid, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 38

Set 3 - Aninomalonaldehydic Acid, Serine, and Cysteine, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 39

Set 3 - N-Phenylacetyl-valine, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 40

Set 3 - Effect of Phenylacetyl-dl-valine-on Strain NRRL 1976, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 41

Set 3 - Unidentified chemical formula, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 42

Set 3 - Benzylimidazoline, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 43

Set 3 - Precursors Which Stimulate Penicillin-G Production, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 44

Set 3 - 8-Phenylbutyric acid, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 45

Set 3 - Units/mg. of Penicillin X, G, and K, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 46

Set 3 - Effect on Penicillin Production of Selected Precursors, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 47

Set 3 - Unidentified chemical formula, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 48

Set 3 - Hypothetical Penicillin Chromatogram, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 49

Set 3 - Comparison of Chromatographic Column, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 50

Set 3 - Crystalline Penicillin Obtained by Use of Precursors, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 51

Set 3 - Crystalline Penicillin Obtained by Use of Precursors, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 52

Set 3 - Crystalline Penicillin Obtained by Use of Precursors, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 53

Set 3 - Analysis for Sodium p-methoxybenzylpenicillinate, circa 1943-1947.

Box 2 Object 54