Pasteur, Louis (1822-1895), chemist

Personal correspondence and papers of Louis Pasteur. The papers also include Pasteur and Magnan family correspondence and a collection of newspaper cuttings papers relating to Pasteur.

The correspondence includes letters from Pasteur to his assistant Fernand Boutroux; Jules Raulin; Jules Vercel; Eugène Viala. The papers relate to research and publications. Subjects covered in the correspondence and papers reflect his research in fermentation, his study of rabies and of inoculation. There are also papers re Pasteur's work on the diseases of silkworms.

Pasteur's research on fermentation and rabies led to his discovery that most infectious diseases are caused by germs, the 'germ theory of disease'. He invented pasteurisation and his work became a key influence on developments in bacteriology and microbiology as well as in gerenal medical practise.

The Pasteur Institute was founded in 1887 by Louis Pasteur.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Louis Pasteur's grandfather was Jean Henri Pasteur, and his aunt Jeannette Pasteur, were both of Vuillafans, near Besançon. A cousin, Maximien Buchon, was of Salins.

Magnan family correspondence includes letters Marie and Louise Pasteur, Jules Raulin, Eugène Magnan, and Mathilde Magnan (afterwards Fournery)

PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Jules Raulin (1836-1896), was Pasteur's first assistant, afterwards Sous-Directeur of Pasteur's Laboratoire de Chimie Physiologique at the Ecole Normale and Professor of Chemistry at Lyons. 1862-84 and n.d

Louis Pasteur's assistant Fernand Boutroux, was the brother of Jeanne Pasteur.

Henry Debray (1827-1888) and Eugène Viala were also assistants to Pasteur.

Jules Vercel was a school friend of Pasteur's from Arbois.