Linus Pauling: The Early Years

Introduction to the World

• 1901 – born in Portland to Lucy Isabelle Darling and Herman William Pauling

• 2 sisters – Pauline and Lucille• Moved frequently, living in

Oswego, Salem, and Condon, Porting

• 1910 – Herman Pauling dies• Moves to Portland for remainder of high school career

Belle and Linus

Oregon in 1910

• Mostly farmland and orchards: dairy, wheat, oats, barley, corn, potatoes, livestock, and prunes.

• Very undeveloped; herders could run their livestock on public land.

• Around 670,000 residents in 1910 (compare to New Jersey’s 2,500,000 in the same year).

Condon, Oregon

Oregon in 1910

• Main businesses: mining, timber, fisheries, farming.

• Railroads became important in the late 1800’s to transport timber and minerals.

• Mining moved from being small, family-owned enterprises to large, corporate ventures.

Oregon Gold Mine

Cinnabar Mine in Oregon

Pharmacy in Early 1900’s

• Many “patent medicines” still not based on research.

• Just becoming more scientific and reliable.

• Introduction of large, chain pharmacies(Walgreens).

Patent Medicines Circa 1920

Oregon Pharmacy

• Enrolled in Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) against Belle’s wishes

• Able to attend only because of a tuition-free program in chemical engineering

Early 1900’s American Education

• 1900, 15.5 million children in public schools– 62,000 (6.4%) high school graduates

• 1910, 17.8 million children in public schools– 111,000 (8.8%) high school graduates

• 1920, 21.6 million children in public schools– 231,000 (16.8%) high school

graduates

History of American Education System

• 1894 – 1915, Progressive reformers stressed importance of school– School build moral character and transforms

youth into productive, “proper” American Citizens

• (I.e. “Manners and Conduct”)

– Important advocated are TR, John Dewey– End of 19th Century Industrial fever imported

need for intelligent, well-educated students to stimulate and improve American Economy

American Educational System…con’t

• “Educational opportunities had become a measure of the aspirations and possibilities of American democracy”

– Marvin Lazerson

• Era of standardized exams had begun! • Idea of kindergarten, middle school

from Europe• Physical education especially stressed

for both sexes