Culture Collections

The series contains 25 files of documents, correspondence, and research notes relating to Dr. Raper's work as a microbiologist with the Fermentation Division of the USDA Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, Illinois. Most material relates to NRRL penicillin research during and after World War II, including data on culture NRRL 824 (the Fleming strain) and culture NRRL 1951, of critical importance to large-scale penicillin production.

Correspondence files are arranged chronologically, except for those with Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey, Ronald Heatley, and Charles Hesseltine. Four files, "Penicillin Chronology," relate to the history and commemoration of the NRRL role in the war effort at the time of the transfer (and public announcement) of unpublished NRRL files to the U.S. National Archives in 1980. The 4 files of the present collection contain correspondence, notes, pamphlets, and clippings. Photographs relating to NRRL staff, facilities, and history are located in Series 13: Photographic Material.