The lost correspondence of Francis Crick

In the summer of 1975, James Watson wrote to Francis Crick proposing that something be published on the story of the RNA Tie Club, an informal group of 24 members who exchanged ideas about RNA and the genetic code. Crick responded, on 16 July: “Almost all my own early correspondence was unfortunately thrown away without my knowledge by an over-efficient secretary.” The Wellcome Library in London, which acquired the majority of Crick's professional papers from him in 2001, also quote this passage and warn that: “Researchers should note that there has been some loss of early correspondence.